the hairy scotsman
Footballguy
When I typed that I was wondering which one of y'all would "correct" me. Can't believe it took this long...you're slipping.
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The TidesofWar Top 25 College Football Programs (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter TidesofWar
- Start date
When I typed that I was wondering which one of y'all would "correct" me. Can't believe it took this long...you're slipping.
drumroll..................the prediction for the final 3
3- USC
2- 'Bama
1- Notre Dame
any takers??
3- USC
2- 'Bama
1- Notre Dame
any takers??
TidesofWar
Footballguy
Alabama has actually won 807 gamesdrumroll..................the prediction for the final 33- USC2- 'Bama1- Notre Dame
TidesofWar
Footballguy
Sorta like posting a number early at The Open Final and hoping the wind blows??I am assimilating data, contemplating, consulting with Coaches and Wise Men, chewing pencils and fingernails to the quick, as I try to sort the final three into some order for a Monday Post.
Seance with Woody Hayes and Bo Schembechler scheduled after The Golf today
Mr. Know-It-All
Footballguy
807? Well hell, they have to be #1...wait a minute, Nebraska is over 800 and they were #8....Alabama has actually won 807 gamesdrumroll..................the prediction for the final 33- USC2- 'Bama1- Notre Dame
the hairy scotsman
Footballguy
yeah, Nebraska is 4th on the wins list with 827 wins...and Texas is 2nd at 832, but they came in 7th here.807? Well hell, they have to be #1...wait a minute, Nebraska is over 800 and they were #8....Alabama has actually won 807 gamesdrumroll..................the prediction for the final 33- USC2- 'Bama1- Notre Dame
Last edited by a moderator:
The Commish
Footballguy
According to the reasons for #4 and #5 being where they were, I am it should be 3- ND, 2- Bama, 1- USC USC's the only one who as won "championships" lately out of them. Who knowsdrumroll..................the prediction for the final 33- USC2- 'Bama1- Notre Dame
TidesofWar
Footballguy
I do consider it, but as more of a "Sidebar of Interest" All these Programs have legends, stories, and areas of uniqueness.
But I will not elevate a Program just based on a Uniform Poll, or Fight Song ranking by ESPN, or the like.
TidesofWar
Footballguy
The problem for Nebraska is their Championship years span only two decades - the 1970s and 1990s.yeah, Nebraska is 4th on the list with 827 wins...and Texas is 2nd at 832, but they came in 7th here.807? Well hell, they have to be #1...wait a minute, Nebraska is over 800 and they were #8....Alabama has actually won 807 gamesdrumroll..................the prediction for the final 33- USC2- 'Bama1- Notre Dame
TidesofWar
Footballguy
The Big Ten agreed to the Rose Bowl deal, so the talk about a USC home game may have some merit, but comes across as more like sour grapes
The Commish
Footballguy
Did I miss a response to this somewhere? I didn't think it warranted being completely ignored. That hard to answer?
TidesofWar
Footballguy
How do you classify an "Era"???College Football was largely regional in nature for many years. It was not till the Rose Bowl invited Alabama to play in 1925 that Southern Football began the process of being accepted on the level of the Eastern, Midwestern, and West Coast "Powers".Some people, for ease and convience, like to start with 1936, when the AP began its selections.Let me put it like this, "Winning in different eras" .........................A great Program like Nebraska, which has National Championships in only two decades, does not qualify.Oklahoma, with all its titles since 1950, is lackingMiami, with five NCs, but all since 1983, must get in lineAnd Michigan, despite all the many positives, cannot have one NC in the last 6 decades and be considered as a winner in all eras, at the highest level.Win One, and you move up - maybe to #1Win two, and there is no doubtBut.....................You Play in the Big Ten, a weaker League than someYou have immense resources from the largest alumni base in the Country, so any voting battle is usually an advantage to you You are a voter darlingYou play a woeful non-conference schedule, outside of Notre DameYou never play meaningful OOC games on the road, historicallyWith all these advantages, you have one split National Championship in 60 plus yearsI am starting to think Michigan folks should start thanking me for placing them ahead of Ohio State
Mr. Pickles
Footballguy
THANK YOU, SORES!TidesofWar said:
Mr. Know-It-All
Footballguy
Alabama (778-316-43 .703) -
Split title in 1925, 1926
Title in 1961, 1964
Split title in 1965
Split title in 1973, 1978
Title in 1979
Title in 1992
USC (766-303-54 .706) -
Split title in 1928
Title in 1931
Split title in 1932, 1939
Title in 1962, 1967
Title in 1972
Split title in 1974, 1978
Split title in 2003
Title in 2004
Notre Dame (831-284-42 .736) -
Title in 1924, 1929
Title in 1930
Split title in 1938
Title in 1943, 1946, 1947, 1949
Title in 1966
Split title in 1973
Title in 1977
Title in 1988
Based on post 1936 (so you can exclude the Ivy league teams), throw out 2 splits and a title for USC. Throw out 2 titles for Notre Dame. Throw out 2 splits titles for Alabama.
Suddenly Alabama looks an awful lot like Nebraska....but with less wins and only 3 outright titles compared to 4 for Nebraska.
USC and Notre Dame...impressive, no doubt about it. Titles spanning multiple decades and you can't deny the 831 victories for Notre Dame.
Split title in 1925, 1926
Title in 1961, 1964
Split title in 1965
Split title in 1973, 1978
Title in 1979
Title in 1992
USC (766-303-54 .706) -
Split title in 1928
Title in 1931
Split title in 1932, 1939
Title in 1962, 1967
Title in 1972
Split title in 1974, 1978
Split title in 2003
Title in 2004
Notre Dame (831-284-42 .736) -
Title in 1924, 1929
Title in 1930
Split title in 1938
Title in 1943, 1946, 1947, 1949
Title in 1966
Split title in 1973
Title in 1977
Title in 1988
Based on post 1936 (so you can exclude the Ivy league teams), throw out 2 splits and a title for USC. Throw out 2 titles for Notre Dame. Throw out 2 splits titles for Alabama.
Suddenly Alabama looks an awful lot like Nebraska....but with less wins and only 3 outright titles compared to 4 for Nebraska.
USC and Notre Dame...impressive, no doubt about it. Titles spanning multiple decades and you can't deny the 831 victories for Notre Dame.
TidesofWar
Footballguy
So, we the finish line is in sight. I plan on cranking these final three out today, and then get ready for the drama of another College football Season.
#3 - THE TROJANS OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Hit it to play the greatest Fight Song ever
The USC Trojans are 766-302-54 in their one hundred and twenty one year history, good for a .707 winning percentage. These numbers come in as the 7th best winning percentage, and the 10th most wins in college football history.
USC has won or shared 38 Pacific Coast, Pac 8, and Pac 10 League Championships, easily the best in the conference. These Titles span the years of 1927 - 2008.
USC has been a dominant Bowl Game participant, amassing a 31-16 record in Bowl action since 1922 - including a 24-9 record in The Rose Bowl.
It is, however, on the National Stage, where USC has shined the brightest. The Trojans claim 9 National Championships, and were named as a Champion by at least one selector in 6 other years. The officially claimed titles begin with the 1931 Howard Jones (Things Can Only get Better) Coached team, and end with the 2004 Pete Carroll led USC team.
USC National Championships
1931 Howard Jones 10-1
1932 Howard Jones 10-0
1962 John McKay 11-0
1967 John McKay 10-1
1972 John McKay 12-0
1974 * John McKay 10-1-1
1978 John Robinson 12-1
2003 Pete Carroll 12-1
2004 Pete Carroll 13-0
One Notable fact - all the Champions above were Bowl victors, which is significant because many of the selections before the mid-1970s did not always factor in Bowl results. USC won the all anyway.
USC was also named by at least one source as a National Champion in 1928, 1929, 1933, 1939, 1976, and 1979 - but these are not "Officially" claimed by the University.
USC has produced seven Heisman winners, tied for first with Notre Dame and Ohio State, and have obviously been blessed with many other outstanding players.
The Heisman winners include Mike Garrett, OJ Simpson, Charles White, Marcus Allen, Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart, and Reggie Bush.
Marcus Allen Student Body Right
Marcus Allen on SI Cover
Allen ready to cut
Charles White on a painful SI Cover
White on the move
Some other notable Trojan greats include.......................
Pat Haden, Leroy Holt, Lynn Swann, Brad Budde, Ron Yary, Tony Boselli, Bruce Matthews, Aaron Rosenburg, Junior Seau, Ronnie Lott, Mark Carrier, Rodney Peete, Anthony Munoz, Frank Gifford, Jeff Fisher, Clay Matthews, Marion Morrison.............................
Add your own favorite, or most hated, Trojan to this list.
Oh, Marion Morrison?? Maybe I should have said John Wayne?? Thats right, "The Duke" was an SC Tackle in 1929 and 1930 - but later went on to greater things in another "Field".....................
John Wayne in Stance
The Duke ready to hit someone
JOhn Wayne in USC Yearbook
Get On Yer Horse!!
USC Coaching notables............................
Howard Jones 1925-1940 121-36-13 .750
John McKay 1960-1975 127-40-8 .749
John Robinson 1976 - 1982
1993-1997 104-35-4 .741
Pete Carroll 2001 - Current 88-15-0 .854
John McKay
Victory Ride
John Robinson
Angry Pete
Pete Carroll
Some USC Facts, History, and Traditions...............................
USC's Nickname
USC's nickname, "Trojans," originated in 1912.
Up to that time, teams from USC were called the Methodists or Wesleyans and neither nickname was looked upon with favor by university officials. Athletic Director Warren Bovard, son of university president Dr. George Bovard, asked Los Angeles Times sports editor Owen Bird to select an appropriate nickname.
"At this time, the athletes and coaches of the university were under terrific handicaps," Bird recalled. "They were facing teams that were bigger and better-equipped, yet they had splendid fighting spirit. The name 'Trojans' fitted them.
"I came out with an article prior to a showdown between USC and Stanford in which I called attention to the fighting spirit of USC athletes and named them 'Trojan' all the time, and it stuck.
"The term 'Trojan' as applied to USC means to me that no matter what the situation, what the odds or what the conditions, the completion must be carried on to the end and those who strive must give all they have and never be weary in doing so."
Traveler, USC's Mascot
Traveler, the noble white horse that appears at all USC home football games with a regal Trojan warrior astride, is one of the most famous college mascots.
Traveler first made an appearance at USC football games in 1961 (in the home opener versus Georgia Tech). Bob Jani, then USC’s director of special events, and Eddie Tannenbaum, then a junior at USC, had spotted Richard Saukko riding his white horse, Traveler I, in the 1961 Rose Parade. They persuaded Saukko to ride his white horse around the Coliseum during USC games, serving as a mascot. Ever since, whenever USC scores, the band plays "Conquest" and Traveler gallops around the Coliseum.
Because of poor health, Saukko stopped riding after the 1988 season. His successors have been alumni: Cass Dabbs, Rick Oas, Tom Nolan, Ardeshir Radpour, and current riders Chuck O'Donnell, who is also Traveler's trainer, and Brent Dahlgren, a USC sophomore. (Saukko passed away in March of 1992.)
The current Trojan mascot is 2-time national champion show horse Traveler V, a 12-year-old Andalusian gelding who first appeared during the 1997 season. And waiting in the wings is Traveler VI, a 5-year-old Andalusian gelding.
Even though the breed of horse may have changed over the years — Travelers I through IV ranged from an Arabian/Tennessee Walker to a pure-bred Tennessee Walker to a pure-bred Arabian — Traveler’s color has always remained pure white.
Saukko first appeared on Traveler in the outfit that actor Charlton Heston wore in "Ben Hur." That proved to be too cumbersome, so Saukko crafted his own leather costume in 1962, modeled after the Tommy Trojan statue on the USC campus (that outfit is still being used). But he still sometimes wore Heston’s helmet. Interestingly, Saukko was once employed by Jim Crowley, one of Notre Dame’s "Four Horsemen."
Legend has it that Heisman Trophy tailback O.J. Simpson decided to come to USC after seeing Traveler on a televised football game. And Trojan faithful swear the horse has an effect on the outcome of games.
"(Former USC coach) John McKay didn’t want to admit that the horse had anything to do with his success," said Saukko, "but he’d always give me a wink when he saw me waiting in the Coliseum tunnel."
Added former USC All-American defensive back and assistant coach Nate Shaw: "The horse is one of the greatest inspirational devices USC has. It definitely got the adrenaline going when I was playing and I think it still has an effect on the players. When I was coaching against USC (at Oregon State), we hated to see that horse come down the tunnel because it got USC a little more pumped up."
Traveler not only appears at Trojan home football games (and even at some away games, including the 1995 Cotton Bowl in Dallas, the farthest Traveler has traveled), but also at other Trojan events, as well as at grade and high schools, charity functions and parades (including the past 40 Rose Parades). Traveler has also appeared on screen (including "The Battle of the Gunfighter" and "Snowfire"), on stage (including in the Long Beach Ballet’s "Nutcracker Ballet"), and in commercials.
Incidentally, Traveler I was not the first equine mascot for Troy. The first appearance of a white horse at a Trojan football game occurred as early as 1927, when Louis Shields began a four-year stint aboard a horse owned by a local banker. In 1948, band director Tommy Walker once had USC colors carried by a Trojan on a palomino. Then, before kickoff of the 1954 USC-Pittsburgh game, Arthur J. Gontier III, then a member of the Trojan Knights spirit group (subbing for another rider who backed out at the last moment), shakily rode a rented gray/white horse while donning a costume once worn by actor Jeff Chandler. A more accomplished rider, USC alum Bob Caswell, and his white horse, Rockazar, took over the following game and performed until retiring in 1959.
Besides these horses, USC once even had a canine mascot. A mutt named George Tirebiter I (famous for chasing cars through the USC campus) first appeared at football games in 1940. He survived a publicized dognapping by UCLA in 1947, but succumbed under the tires of an automobile in 1950. He was succeeded by George II for 3 years (1950-52), then George III for 1 year (1953) and finally George IV for 1 year (1957).
"FIGHT ON"
Fight On for ol’ SC
Our men Fight On to victory.
Our Alma Mater dear,
looks up to you
Fight On and win
For ol’ SC
Fight On to victory
Fight On!
This song is usually played after first downs and touchdowns. The music for USC’s fight song, "Fight On," was composed in 1922 by USC dental student Milo Sweet (with lyrics by Sweet and Glen Grant) as an entry in a Trojan spirit contest. In addition to inspiring generations of Trojan fans and players, the song has been used in numerous recordings and movies. Legend has it that during World War II in the Pacific, an American task force attacked an island held by the Japanese. As the Americans stormed the beach, "Fight On" blared from the deck of one of the transports. The U.S. men let out a tremendous roar and eventually won the island.
"CONQUEST"
Another famous USC song is the regal processional march, "Conquest," by Alfred Newman. It is usually played after every USC score and victory. This stirring battle cry, from Newman's score to the 1947 motion picture classic "Captain from Castile," has become synonymous with the championship tradition of USC since the Trojans adopted it in 1950. Newman, a legendary composer of film music, was the musical director of Twentieth Century-Fox Studios.
Other Songs
"Tribute To Troy," the incessant stanza of pounding drums and blaring horns, is played after every defensive stop. "Fanfare" is the introduction to "Tribute To Troy" and is played when the band takes the field. "All Right Now" is played after USC gets a turnover. "Another One Bites the Dust" is played after USC gets a sack. The "William Tell Overture" is played at the start of the fourth quarter.
Tommy Walker
The trumpet "Charge," heard often at athletic contests, was composed by a post-World War II USC student named Tommy Walker. As a member of the Trojan Marching Band, he was known as "Tommy Trojan," and as a USC football player, he would shed his band uniform, come down from the stands, and kick extra points (he lettered in 1947). Upon graduation in 1948, he was hired as the band's director. He later was the first entertainment director at Disneyland and then went into business as one of the world's leading creators of show business spectacles (including Super Bowl halftimes and Olympic opening and closing ceremonies). He died in 1986.
Tailback U
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Reggiebushheisman.jpgReggie Bush's Heisman"Tailback U" is a nickname that emerged when Hall of Fame college football coach John McKay ('60–'75) and successor John Robinson ('76–'82) began producing a number of top-rated players at the tailback position such as Mike Garrett, O.J. Simpson, Anthony Davis, Ricky Bell, Charles White, and Marcus Allen. Coach Pete Carroll has continued the trend in recent years with Heisman Trophy winning tailback Reggie Bush and current NFL players LenDale White and Justin Fargas.
Coach McKay's play calling emphasized and refined the run, taking full advantage of his quality backs-a trend followed by his former offensive coordinator and immediate successor, John Robinson. Carroll has had success and Heisman winners, both at Quarterback and Running Back.
The #55
A recent tradition has a selected linebacker wearing the number 55. The number cannot be taken but is assigned by the head coach. Pete Carroll has, at times, refrained from assigning the number if he does not think any player is worthy. The player wearing #55 is typically regarded as the anchor of the defense.
Notable players who have worn #55 for USC include Junior Seau, Willie McGinest, Markus Steele, and Chris Claiborne; Seau, McGinest and Claiborne were all top-10 picks in the NFL Draft. Senior Keith Rivers is the most recent #55 to be selected in the top ten. The Cincinnati Bengals made him the ninth overall selection in the 2008 draft.
"And On the Eighth Day, The Lord Created ..........................
THE SONG GIRLS!!!
What better way to end this Chapter than with some photos of those luscious, irresistable LA Dolls. Love to see these sweater enhancing babes on a chilly day
Oh - there are some other USC photos as well..........................
YESSS!!!
Booty Call
Wet and Wild
Bikini team
Gorgeous Keli
Flexibility
Lindsey
Line Up
Three Beauties
Sweater Love
Bikini Team
Girls at your Pool don't look like this!
Smiles, Everone!!
Sassy Song Girls
UCLA fans are mesmerized
Evening Wear
Carroll looking Cool with the Babes
Frank Gifford as a Trojan
Lynn Swann
Pat Haden
Brad Budde
Anthony Munoz
Junior Seau
Ronnie was a "Lott" of trouble this sad day
Finish With the Girls
USC has a great tradition, and is in pursuit of the #1 ranking with the turnaround Pete Carroll has engineered. So...............................................
WE ARE SC!!!!!!!!!!
FIGHT ON!!!!!!
#3 - THE TROJANS OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Hit it to play the greatest Fight Song ever
The USC Trojans are 766-302-54 in their one hundred and twenty one year history, good for a .707 winning percentage. These numbers come in as the 7th best winning percentage, and the 10th most wins in college football history.
USC has won or shared 38 Pacific Coast, Pac 8, and Pac 10 League Championships, easily the best in the conference. These Titles span the years of 1927 - 2008.
USC has been a dominant Bowl Game participant, amassing a 31-16 record in Bowl action since 1922 - including a 24-9 record in The Rose Bowl.
It is, however, on the National Stage, where USC has shined the brightest. The Trojans claim 9 National Championships, and were named as a Champion by at least one selector in 6 other years. The officially claimed titles begin with the 1931 Howard Jones (Things Can Only get Better) Coached team, and end with the 2004 Pete Carroll led USC team.
USC National Championships
1931 Howard Jones 10-1
1932 Howard Jones 10-0
1962 John McKay 11-0
1967 John McKay 10-1
1972 John McKay 12-0
1974 * John McKay 10-1-1
1978 John Robinson 12-1
2003 Pete Carroll 12-1
2004 Pete Carroll 13-0
One Notable fact - all the Champions above were Bowl victors, which is significant because many of the selections before the mid-1970s did not always factor in Bowl results. USC won the all anyway.
USC was also named by at least one source as a National Champion in 1928, 1929, 1933, 1939, 1976, and 1979 - but these are not "Officially" claimed by the University.
USC has produced seven Heisman winners, tied for first with Notre Dame and Ohio State, and have obviously been blessed with many other outstanding players.
The Heisman winners include Mike Garrett, OJ Simpson, Charles White, Marcus Allen, Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart, and Reggie Bush.
Marcus Allen Student Body Right
Marcus Allen on SI Cover
Allen ready to cut
Charles White on a painful SI Cover
White on the move
Some other notable Trojan greats include.......................
Pat Haden, Leroy Holt, Lynn Swann, Brad Budde, Ron Yary, Tony Boselli, Bruce Matthews, Aaron Rosenburg, Junior Seau, Ronnie Lott, Mark Carrier, Rodney Peete, Anthony Munoz, Frank Gifford, Jeff Fisher, Clay Matthews, Marion Morrison.............................
Add your own favorite, or most hated, Trojan to this list.
Oh, Marion Morrison?? Maybe I should have said John Wayne?? Thats right, "The Duke" was an SC Tackle in 1929 and 1930 - but later went on to greater things in another "Field".....................
John Wayne in Stance
The Duke ready to hit someone
JOhn Wayne in USC Yearbook
Get On Yer Horse!!
USC Coaching notables............................
Howard Jones 1925-1940 121-36-13 .750
John McKay 1960-1975 127-40-8 .749
John Robinson 1976 - 1982
1993-1997 104-35-4 .741
Pete Carroll 2001 - Current 88-15-0 .854
John McKay
Victory Ride
John Robinson
Angry Pete
Pete Carroll
Some USC Facts, History, and Traditions...............................
USC's Nickname
USC's nickname, "Trojans," originated in 1912.
Up to that time, teams from USC were called the Methodists or Wesleyans and neither nickname was looked upon with favor by university officials. Athletic Director Warren Bovard, son of university president Dr. George Bovard, asked Los Angeles Times sports editor Owen Bird to select an appropriate nickname.
"At this time, the athletes and coaches of the university were under terrific handicaps," Bird recalled. "They were facing teams that were bigger and better-equipped, yet they had splendid fighting spirit. The name 'Trojans' fitted them.
"I came out with an article prior to a showdown between USC and Stanford in which I called attention to the fighting spirit of USC athletes and named them 'Trojan' all the time, and it stuck.
"The term 'Trojan' as applied to USC means to me that no matter what the situation, what the odds or what the conditions, the completion must be carried on to the end and those who strive must give all they have and never be weary in doing so."
Traveler, USC's Mascot
Traveler, the noble white horse that appears at all USC home football games with a regal Trojan warrior astride, is one of the most famous college mascots.
Traveler first made an appearance at USC football games in 1961 (in the home opener versus Georgia Tech). Bob Jani, then USC’s director of special events, and Eddie Tannenbaum, then a junior at USC, had spotted Richard Saukko riding his white horse, Traveler I, in the 1961 Rose Parade. They persuaded Saukko to ride his white horse around the Coliseum during USC games, serving as a mascot. Ever since, whenever USC scores, the band plays "Conquest" and Traveler gallops around the Coliseum.
Because of poor health, Saukko stopped riding after the 1988 season. His successors have been alumni: Cass Dabbs, Rick Oas, Tom Nolan, Ardeshir Radpour, and current riders Chuck O'Donnell, who is also Traveler's trainer, and Brent Dahlgren, a USC sophomore. (Saukko passed away in March of 1992.)
The current Trojan mascot is 2-time national champion show horse Traveler V, a 12-year-old Andalusian gelding who first appeared during the 1997 season. And waiting in the wings is Traveler VI, a 5-year-old Andalusian gelding.
Even though the breed of horse may have changed over the years — Travelers I through IV ranged from an Arabian/Tennessee Walker to a pure-bred Tennessee Walker to a pure-bred Arabian — Traveler’s color has always remained pure white.
Saukko first appeared on Traveler in the outfit that actor Charlton Heston wore in "Ben Hur." That proved to be too cumbersome, so Saukko crafted his own leather costume in 1962, modeled after the Tommy Trojan statue on the USC campus (that outfit is still being used). But he still sometimes wore Heston’s helmet. Interestingly, Saukko was once employed by Jim Crowley, one of Notre Dame’s "Four Horsemen."
Legend has it that Heisman Trophy tailback O.J. Simpson decided to come to USC after seeing Traveler on a televised football game. And Trojan faithful swear the horse has an effect on the outcome of games.
"(Former USC coach) John McKay didn’t want to admit that the horse had anything to do with his success," said Saukko, "but he’d always give me a wink when he saw me waiting in the Coliseum tunnel."
Added former USC All-American defensive back and assistant coach Nate Shaw: "The horse is one of the greatest inspirational devices USC has. It definitely got the adrenaline going when I was playing and I think it still has an effect on the players. When I was coaching against USC (at Oregon State), we hated to see that horse come down the tunnel because it got USC a little more pumped up."
Traveler not only appears at Trojan home football games (and even at some away games, including the 1995 Cotton Bowl in Dallas, the farthest Traveler has traveled), but also at other Trojan events, as well as at grade and high schools, charity functions and parades (including the past 40 Rose Parades). Traveler has also appeared on screen (including "The Battle of the Gunfighter" and "Snowfire"), on stage (including in the Long Beach Ballet’s "Nutcracker Ballet"), and in commercials.
Incidentally, Traveler I was not the first equine mascot for Troy. The first appearance of a white horse at a Trojan football game occurred as early as 1927, when Louis Shields began a four-year stint aboard a horse owned by a local banker. In 1948, band director Tommy Walker once had USC colors carried by a Trojan on a palomino. Then, before kickoff of the 1954 USC-Pittsburgh game, Arthur J. Gontier III, then a member of the Trojan Knights spirit group (subbing for another rider who backed out at the last moment), shakily rode a rented gray/white horse while donning a costume once worn by actor Jeff Chandler. A more accomplished rider, USC alum Bob Caswell, and his white horse, Rockazar, took over the following game and performed until retiring in 1959.
Besides these horses, USC once even had a canine mascot. A mutt named George Tirebiter I (famous for chasing cars through the USC campus) first appeared at football games in 1940. He survived a publicized dognapping by UCLA in 1947, but succumbed under the tires of an automobile in 1950. He was succeeded by George II for 3 years (1950-52), then George III for 1 year (1953) and finally George IV for 1 year (1957).
"FIGHT ON"
Fight On for ol’ SC
Our men Fight On to victory.
Our Alma Mater dear,
looks up to you
Fight On and win
For ol’ SC
Fight On to victory
Fight On!
This song is usually played after first downs and touchdowns. The music for USC’s fight song, "Fight On," was composed in 1922 by USC dental student Milo Sweet (with lyrics by Sweet and Glen Grant) as an entry in a Trojan spirit contest. In addition to inspiring generations of Trojan fans and players, the song has been used in numerous recordings and movies. Legend has it that during World War II in the Pacific, an American task force attacked an island held by the Japanese. As the Americans stormed the beach, "Fight On" blared from the deck of one of the transports. The U.S. men let out a tremendous roar and eventually won the island.
"CONQUEST"
Another famous USC song is the regal processional march, "Conquest," by Alfred Newman. It is usually played after every USC score and victory. This stirring battle cry, from Newman's score to the 1947 motion picture classic "Captain from Castile," has become synonymous with the championship tradition of USC since the Trojans adopted it in 1950. Newman, a legendary composer of film music, was the musical director of Twentieth Century-Fox Studios.
Other Songs
"Tribute To Troy," the incessant stanza of pounding drums and blaring horns, is played after every defensive stop. "Fanfare" is the introduction to "Tribute To Troy" and is played when the band takes the field. "All Right Now" is played after USC gets a turnover. "Another One Bites the Dust" is played after USC gets a sack. The "William Tell Overture" is played at the start of the fourth quarter.
Tommy Walker
The trumpet "Charge," heard often at athletic contests, was composed by a post-World War II USC student named Tommy Walker. As a member of the Trojan Marching Band, he was known as "Tommy Trojan," and as a USC football player, he would shed his band uniform, come down from the stands, and kick extra points (he lettered in 1947). Upon graduation in 1948, he was hired as the band's director. He later was the first entertainment director at Disneyland and then went into business as one of the world's leading creators of show business spectacles (including Super Bowl halftimes and Olympic opening and closing ceremonies). He died in 1986.
Tailback U
Coach McKay's play calling emphasized and refined the run, taking full advantage of his quality backs-a trend followed by his former offensive coordinator and immediate successor, John Robinson. Carroll has had success and Heisman winners, both at Quarterback and Running Back.
The #55
A recent tradition has a selected linebacker wearing the number 55. The number cannot be taken but is assigned by the head coach. Pete Carroll has, at times, refrained from assigning the number if he does not think any player is worthy. The player wearing #55 is typically regarded as the anchor of the defense.
Notable players who have worn #55 for USC include Junior Seau, Willie McGinest, Markus Steele, and Chris Claiborne; Seau, McGinest and Claiborne were all top-10 picks in the NFL Draft. Senior Keith Rivers is the most recent #55 to be selected in the top ten. The Cincinnati Bengals made him the ninth overall selection in the 2008 draft.
"And On the Eighth Day, The Lord Created ..........................
THE SONG GIRLS!!!
What better way to end this Chapter than with some photos of those luscious, irresistable LA Dolls. Love to see these sweater enhancing babes on a chilly day
Oh - there are some other USC photos as well..........................YESSS!!!
Booty Call
Wet and Wild
Bikini team
Gorgeous Keli
Flexibility
Lindsey
Line Up
Three Beauties
Sweater Love
Bikini Team
Girls at your Pool don't look like this!
Smiles, Everone!!
Sassy Song Girls
UCLA fans are mesmerized
Evening Wear
Carroll looking Cool with the Babes
Frank Gifford as a Trojan
Lynn Swann
Pat Haden
Brad Budde
Anthony Munoz
Junior Seau
Ronnie was a "Lott" of trouble this sad day
Finish With the Girls
USC has a great tradition, and is in pursuit of the #1 ranking with the turnaround Pete Carroll has engineered. So...............................................
WE ARE SC!!!!!!!!!!
FIGHT ON!!!!!!
Mr. Pickles
Footballguy
Okay, bagger, you can get pissed now.
TidesofWar
Footballguy
#2 - THE ALABAMAhhh......
CRIMSON TIDE
Play Yea Alabama
The Alabama Crimson Tide, The Football Pride of Dixie, The Flagship and Rock that Southern Football success was built upon. A unique nickname, unique place, and unique tradition. Alabama began playing College Football in 1892, and has a 799-316-43 in that time. The wins are seventh most in NCAA history, and the .710 winning percentage is good for sixth all time. The Crimson Tide has 25 Conference Championships - 4 Southern Conference and 21 Southeastern Conference Championships, spanning the years of 1924-1999. Alabama claims 11 National Championships, and they have occured in 5 different decades................................. National championships 1925 Wallace Wade 10-0 Rose Bowl Winner1926 9-0-1 Tied in Rose Bowl1930 10-0 Rose Bowl Winner 1934 Frank Thomas 10-0 Rose Bowl Winner 1961 Paul Bryant 11-0 Sugar Bowl Winner1964 10-1 Orange Bowl Loss1965 9-1-1 Orange Bowl Winner1973 11-1 Sugar Bowl Loss1978 11-1 Sugar Bowl Winner1979 12-0 Sugar Bowl Winner 1992 Gene Stallings 13-0 Sugar Bowl Winner Alabama has also been selected as a National Champion by at least one recognized selector in six other seasons........................
There are two seasons that particularly rankles Alabama Folks. In 1966, two-time defending Champ Alabama went 11-0, but Notre Dame played for a tie at the end of their bally-hooed tie with Michigan State, rather than risk a turnover. The Irish felt the media would reward them with a #1 ranking, as long as they did not lose.
They were, of course, right - ND and Michigan State split the vote, and there was no three-peat for Alabama.
There was also a sentiment among media folks that "We want to send a message to the state of Alabama about Civil Rights", and I believe there is some merit here as well
Then, there is 1977. Notre Dame, ranked #5, crushed #1 Texas 38-10 in the Cotton Bowl, while #3 Alabama also destroyed #8 Ohio State 35-6 in the Sugar Bowl. When #2 Oklahoma got waxed by Arkansas that night in The Orange Bowl, Alabama fans rejoiced. They knew Notre Dame would get a lot of votes, but the feeling was that at worst the vote would be split between AP and the UPI.
Alabama was ranked higher, had even won its Bowl Game by more than Notre Dame. Both teams had one loss - Alabama by 7 at Nebraska, a day Jeff Rutledge threw 5 interceptions, or Bama likely turns a 31-24 loss into something like a 35-21 win.
Notre Dame had lost to Ole Miss - an Ole Miss team Alabama had routed in the first game of the year.
Bama had to win at least half of the Championship, right????
When it came out - Notre Dame won both polls.
CLASS
Coach Bryant taught it, preached it, and lived it. When informed about the 1977 robbery, instead of whining and crying like modern day Coaches (Stoops, Meyer please read this), Coach Bryant uttered gave the media four words ......................
"Congratulations to Notre Dame"
1941 - Coach Frank Thomas1945 - Coach Frank Thomas1962 - Coach Paul Bryant1966 - Coach Paul Bryant1975 - Coach Paul Bryant1977 - Coach Paul Bryant Alabama is the nations "Bowlingest Team", with a nation' best 56 Bowl appearances, and a 31-22-3 record in those games. The 31 wins are tied for #1 all time with USC. As with all the great Programs, Alabama has produced its share of great players, some of which include...................................... W. T. "Bully VandeGraaf, Paul Bryant, Johnny Mack Brown, Wu Winslett, Don Hutson, Vaughn Mancha, Johnny Cain, Harry Gilmer, Bobby Marlow, Bart Starr, Billy Neighbors, Mike Fracchia, Joe Namath, Ken Stabler, Ozzie Newsome, John Hannah, Dwight Stephenson, Don McNeal, Bobby Humphrey, David Palmer, Johnny Musso, Shaun Alexander, Chris Samuels, Ray Perkins, Marty Lyons, EJ Junior, Football Freddie Sington, John Henry Suther, Pooley Hubert..... I could go on all day.
Joe Namath - QB and Heart throb
Joe Recently Graduated
Ozzie Newsome
Johnny Mack Brown (Left)
Bart Starr
Ken Stabler's Run in the mud to beat Auburn
Stabler vs Nebraska in a GREAT picture
Jay Barker doing what Bama loves to do - Beat Tennessee
And Linebackers - Penn State has been dubbed as "Linebacker U", but the same term could be applied to Alabama as well. I would take Woodrow Lowe, Lee Roy Jordan, Derrick Thomas, Barry Krauss, Cornelius Bennett, DeMeco Ryans, and the Bama Linebacking Corps against those from any Program.
Derrick Thomas
DT - the best ever, mashes a Wolverine
Bama to KC
The Physical Woodrow Lowe
Cornelius Bennett
Barry Krauss Stands In on SI Cover
Many People consider the great Alabama Coaches to begin and end with Coach Paul Bryant, but there is far more to this story. Gene Stallings, Frank Thomas, and Wallace Wade all have National Championships on their resumes. Some Bama Coaching notables.................... Xen Scott 1919 - 1922 29-9-3Wallace Wade 1923 - 1930 61-13-3
Frank Thomas 1931-1946 115-24-7
Paul Bryant 1958-1982 232-46-9
Ray Perkins 1983-1986 32-15-1
Gene Stallings 1990-1997 70-16-1
Nick Saban Current 19-8-0
The Four Alabama Horsemen
Alabama was the driving force for Southern Football gaining its due respect on a National Scale. There were two pivotal wins in particular.............................
In 1922, Coach Xen Scott took his final team to Philadelphia to play Eastern Power and favored Penn. Captain Al Clemens said
Alabama won 20-19, and the greatest Bowl Tradition in NCAA history was born.
People claim there is a lot of pressure at Alabama, but as Coach Gene Stallings said........
Sensitive to the comments, Wade announced the 1930 season would be his last. His team went undefeated, and received another Rose Bowl invite, to face Washington State.
Before the game, the great Governor Bibb Graves issued a statement that perhaps may help some here realize why Alabama Football was so important, maybe moreso than in these days.......................
Then there is Coach Bryant, and none like him. I firmly believe Coach Bryant and Coach Wooden of UCLA are the two greatest ever in their sports. Coach Bryant influenced, helped, challenged, thousands of successful people, some of whom he never met. He was also able to realize his limitations, and make changes - like travelling to Austin, Texas, and learning the principles of the Wishbone from Darrell Royal.
Coach Bryant had experienced a couple of mediocre seasons in the late 1960s, and realized change was needed. That was one of his great strengths - being able to adapt, and also understanding to succeed at the highest level, you need to surround yourself with good people, in all areas.
You need good people on the field, in the coaches offices, in administrative positions, everywhere there is a job to be done. Coach Bryant understood this.
"If anything goes bad, I did it. If anything goes semi-good, we did it. If anything goes really good, then you did it. That's all it takes to get people to win football games for you." - Coach Paul Bryant
Coach Bryant and some fans
Coach Bryant on the Goal Post
TOUGHNESS
Some other Alabama Facts, History, and Tradition......................................
How the Crimson Tide Got its Name
In early newspaper accounts of Alabama football, the team was simply listed as the "varsity" or the "Crimson White" after the school colors.
The first nickname to become popular and used by headline writers was the "Thin Red Line." The nickname was used until 1906.
The name "Crimson Tide" is supposed to have first been used by Hugh Roberts, former sports editor of the Birmingham Age-Herald. He used "Crimson Tide" in describing an Alabama-Auburn game played in Birmingham in 1907, the last football contest between the two schools until 1948 when the series was resumed. The game was played in a sea of mud and Auburn was a heavy favorite to win.
But, evidently, the "Thin Red Line" played a great game in the red mud and held Auburn to a 6-6 tie, thus gaining the name "Crimson Tide." Zipp Newman, former sports editor of the Birmingham News, probably popularized the name more than any other writer.
The Elephant Story
The story of how Alabama became associated with the "elephant" goes back to the 1930 season when Coach Wallace Wade had assembled a great football team.
On October 8, 1930, sports writer Everett Strupper of the Atlanta Journal wrote a story of the Alabama-Mississippi game he had witnessed in Tuscaloosa four days earlier. Strupper wrote, "That Alabama team of 1930 is a typical Wade machine, powerful, big, tough, fast, aggressive, well-schooled in fundamentals, and the best blocking team for this early in the season that I have ever seen. When those big brutes hit you I mean you go down and stay down, often for an additional two minutes.
"Coach Wade started his second team that was plenty big and they went right to their knitting scoring a touchdown in the first quarter against one of the best fighting small lines that I have seen. For Ole Miss was truly battling the big boys for every inch of ground.
"At the end of the quarter, the earth started to tremble, there was a distant rumble that continued to grow. Some excited fan in the stands bellowed, 'Hold your horses, the elephants are coming,' and out stamped this Alabama varsity.
"It was the first time that I had seen it and the size of the entire eleven nearly knocked me cold, men that I had seen play last year looking like they had nearly doubled in size."
Strupper and other writers continued to refer to the Alabama linemen as "Red Elephants," the color referring to the crimson jerseys.
The 1930 team posted an overall 10-0 record. It shut out eight opponents and allowed only 13 points all season while scoring 217. The "Red Elephants" rolled over Washington State 24-0 in the Rose Bowl and were declared National Champions.
Yea Alabama
Yea, Alabama! Drown 'em Tide!
Every 'Bama man's behind you,
Hit your stride.
Go teach the Bulldogs to behave,
Send the Yellow Jackets to a watery grave.
And if a man starts to weaken,
That's a shame!
For Bama's pluck and grit have
Writ her name in Crimson flame.
Fight on, fight on, fight on men!
Remember the Rose Bowl, we'll win then.
So roll on to victory,
Hit your stride,
You're Dixie's football pride,
Crimson Tide, Roll Tide, Roll Tide!!
TENNESSEE WEEK
TennesseeMain article: Third Saturday in OctoberDespite the heated in-state rivalry with Auburn, Bear Bryant was more adamant about defeating his rivals to the north, the Tennessee Volunteers. The series is named the Third Saturday in October, the traditional calendar date on which the game was played. Despite the name, the game has only been played on the third Saturday five times between 1995–2007. The first game between the two sides was played in 1901 in Birmingham, ending in a 6–6 tie. From 1902 to 1913, Alabama dominated the series, only losing once, and never allowing a touchdown by the Volunteers. Beginning in 1928, the rivalry was first played on its traditional date and began to be a challenge for the Tide as Robert Neyland began challenging Alabama for their perennial spot on top of the conference standings.[98] In the 1950s, Jim Goostree, the head trainer for Alabama, began another tradition as he began handing out cigars following a victory over the Volunteers.
Between 1971–1981, Alabama held an eleven-game winning streak over the Volunteers and, between 1986–1994, a nine-game unbeaten streak. However, following Alabama's streak, Tennessee responded with a seven-game winning streak from 1995–2001. Starting with their 2001 meeting, each team has split the series with four wins each. Alabama won the most recent game 29–9 in 2008, and lead the series 46–38–7
Some Bama Photos.........................................
Coach Bryant and Joe Namath
1935 Rose Bowl
Bama Fans Sara Evans and Eva Longoria
Jay and his wife at the CMT awards - who picked that outfit?
The Great Goal Line Stand vs Penn State in 1979
Cheerleader Sela Ward
Crimsonettes
Cheerleader
Cheerleaders
Pair of Cuties
Another cutie'
Cheereaders at Denny Chimes
Nick Saban leads The Tide out
Saban showing an official some love
Lt Colonel Wallace Wade (left)
Frank Thomas and players across from "The Corner Store"
Gene Stallings and a great Bama Fan - Son John Mark
Coach Stallings and Johnny on the field the day before crushing Miami
Johnny Musso soars over Auburn in 1971 (SI Cover)
Musso running over The Rebels
Tensed up Cheerleader
So, that is Alabama. So close to #1, it is painful.
The 1966 and 1977 pollster bias is the difference, in my opinion. Hard to swallow, for Bama fans, but in the words of Coach Bryant.............................
"Congratulations to Notre Dame"
ROLL TIDE ROLL !!!
I will end with a collection of great quotes from Coach Bryant
......................
Mama wanted me to be a preacher. I told her coachin' and preachin' were a lot alike."
"But it's still a coach's game. Make no mistake. You start at the top. If you don't have a good one at the top, you don't have a cut dog's chance. If you do, the rest falls into place. You have to have good assistants, and a lot of things, but first you have to have the chairman of the board.""If anything goes bad, I did it. If anything goes semi-good, we did it. If anything goes really good, then you did it. That's all it takes to get people to win football games for you."
"I think the most important thing of all for any team is a winning attitude. The coaches must have it. The players must have it. The student body must have it. If you have dedicated players who believe in themselves, you don't need a lot of talent."
"The idea of molding men means a lot to me."
"You must learn how to hold a team together. You must lift some men up, calm others down, until finally they've got one heartbeat. Then you've got yourself a team."
"If wanting to win is a fault, as some of my critics seem to insist, then I plead guilty. I like to win. I know no other way. It's in my blood."
"The old lessons (work, self-discipline, sacrifice, teamwork, fighting to achieve) aren't being taught by many people other than football coaches these days. The football coach has a captive audience and can teach these lessons because the communication lines between himself and his players are more wide open than between kids and parents. We better teach these lessons or else the country's future population will be made up of a majority of crooks, drug addicts, or people on relief."
"Sacrifice. Work. Self-discipline. I teach these things, and my boys don't forget them when they leave
"It's not the will to win that matters - everyone has that. It's the will to prepare to win that matters
"I'll never give up on a player regardless of his ability as long as he never gives up on himself. In time he will develop."
"I'll never give up on a player regardless of his ability as long as he never gives up on himself. In time he will develop."
Set goals - high goals for you and your organization. When your organization has a goal to shoot for, you create teamwork, people working for a common good."
You have to learn what makes this or that Sammy run. For one it's a pat on the back, for another it's eating him out, for still another it's a fatherly talk, or something else. You're a fool if you think as I did as a young coach, that you can treat them all alike."
If a man is a quitter, I'd rather find out in practice than in a game. I ask for all a player has so I'll know later what I can expect."
Find your own picture, your own self in anything that goes bad. It's awfully easy to mouth off at your staff or chew out players, but if it's bad, and you’re the head coach, you're responsible. If we have an intercepted pass, I threw it. I'm the head coach. If we get a punt blocked, I caused it. A bad practice, a bad game, it's up to the head coach to assume his responsibility."
It's awfully important to win with humility. It's also important to lose. I hate to lose worse than anyone, but if you never lose you won't know how to act. If you lose with humility, then you can come back."
Losing doesn't make me want to quit. It makes me want to fight that much harder."
The biggest mistake coaches make is taking borderline cases and trying to save them. I'm not talking about grades now, I'm talking about character. I want to know before a boy enrolls about his home life, and what his parents want him to be."
Be aware of "yes" men. Generally, they are losers. Surround yourself with winners. Never forget - people win."
If there is one thing that has helped me as a coach, it's my ability to recognize winners, or good people who can become winners by paying the price."
"You take those little rascals, talk to them good, pat them on the back, let them think they are good, and they will go out and beat the biguns."
"If you want to coach you have three rules to follow to win. One, surround yourself with people who can't live without football. I've had a lot of them. Two, be able to recognize winners. They come in all forms. And, three, have a plan for everything. A plan for practice, a plan for the game. A plan for being ahead, and a plan for being behind 20-0 at half, with your quarterback hurt and the phones dead, with it raining cats and dogs and no rain gear because the equipment man left it at home."
My approach to the game has been the same at all the places I've been. Vanilla. The sure way. That means, first of all, to win physically. If you got eleven on a field, and they beat the other eleven physically, they'll win. They will start forcing mistakes. They'll win in the fourth quarter."
"Little things make the difference. Everyone is well prepared in the big things, but only the winners perfect the little things."
"But there's one thing about quitters you have to guard against - they are contagious. If one boy goes, the chances are he'll take somebody with him, and you don't want that. So when they would start acting that way, I used to pack them up and get them out, or embarrass them, or do something to turn them around."
People who are in it for their own good are individualists. They don't share the same heartbeat that makes a team so great. A great unit, whether it be football or any organization, shares the same heartbeat."
If you believe in yourself and have dedication and pride - and never quit - you'll be a winner. The price of victory is high but so are the rewards."
"I have always tried to teach my players to be fighters. When I say that, I don't mean put up your dukes and get in a fistfight over something. I'm talking about facing adversity in your life. There is not a person alive who isn't going to have some awfully bad days in their lives. I tell my players that what I mean by fighting is when your house burns down, and your wife runs off with the drummer, and you've lost your job and all the odds are against you. What are you going to do? Most people just lay down and quit. Well, I want my people to fight back."
I always want my players to show class, knock'em down, pat on the back, and run back to the huddle."
CRIMSON TIDE
Play Yea Alabama
The Alabama Crimson Tide, The Football Pride of Dixie, The Flagship and Rock that Southern Football success was built upon. A unique nickname, unique place, and unique tradition. Alabama began playing College Football in 1892, and has a 799-316-43 in that time. The wins are seventh most in NCAA history, and the .710 winning percentage is good for sixth all time. The Crimson Tide has 25 Conference Championships - 4 Southern Conference and 21 Southeastern Conference Championships, spanning the years of 1924-1999. Alabama claims 11 National Championships, and they have occured in 5 different decades................................. National championships 1925 Wallace Wade 10-0 Rose Bowl Winner1926 9-0-1 Tied in Rose Bowl1930 10-0 Rose Bowl Winner 1934 Frank Thomas 10-0 Rose Bowl Winner 1961 Paul Bryant 11-0 Sugar Bowl Winner1964 10-1 Orange Bowl Loss1965 9-1-1 Orange Bowl Winner1973 11-1 Sugar Bowl Loss1978 11-1 Sugar Bowl Winner1979 12-0 Sugar Bowl Winner 1992 Gene Stallings 13-0 Sugar Bowl Winner Alabama has also been selected as a National Champion by at least one recognized selector in six other seasons........................
There are two seasons that particularly rankles Alabama Folks. In 1966, two-time defending Champ Alabama went 11-0, but Notre Dame played for a tie at the end of their bally-hooed tie with Michigan State, rather than risk a turnover. The Irish felt the media would reward them with a #1 ranking, as long as they did not lose.
They were, of course, right - ND and Michigan State split the vote, and there was no three-peat for Alabama.
There was also a sentiment among media folks that "We want to send a message to the state of Alabama about Civil Rights", and I believe there is some merit here as well
Then, there is 1977. Notre Dame, ranked #5, crushed #1 Texas 38-10 in the Cotton Bowl, while #3 Alabama also destroyed #8 Ohio State 35-6 in the Sugar Bowl. When #2 Oklahoma got waxed by Arkansas that night in The Orange Bowl, Alabama fans rejoiced. They knew Notre Dame would get a lot of votes, but the feeling was that at worst the vote would be split between AP and the UPI.
Alabama was ranked higher, had even won its Bowl Game by more than Notre Dame. Both teams had one loss - Alabama by 7 at Nebraska, a day Jeff Rutledge threw 5 interceptions, or Bama likely turns a 31-24 loss into something like a 35-21 win.
Notre Dame had lost to Ole Miss - an Ole Miss team Alabama had routed in the first game of the year.
Bama had to win at least half of the Championship, right????
When it came out - Notre Dame won both polls.
CLASS
Coach Bryant taught it, preached it, and lived it. When informed about the 1977 robbery, instead of whining and crying like modern day Coaches (Stoops, Meyer please read this), Coach Bryant uttered gave the media four words ......................
"Congratulations to Notre Dame"
1941 - Coach Frank Thomas1945 - Coach Frank Thomas1962 - Coach Paul Bryant1966 - Coach Paul Bryant1975 - Coach Paul Bryant1977 - Coach Paul Bryant Alabama is the nations "Bowlingest Team", with a nation' best 56 Bowl appearances, and a 31-22-3 record in those games. The 31 wins are tied for #1 all time with USC. As with all the great Programs, Alabama has produced its share of great players, some of which include...................................... W. T. "Bully VandeGraaf, Paul Bryant, Johnny Mack Brown, Wu Winslett, Don Hutson, Vaughn Mancha, Johnny Cain, Harry Gilmer, Bobby Marlow, Bart Starr, Billy Neighbors, Mike Fracchia, Joe Namath, Ken Stabler, Ozzie Newsome, John Hannah, Dwight Stephenson, Don McNeal, Bobby Humphrey, David Palmer, Johnny Musso, Shaun Alexander, Chris Samuels, Ray Perkins, Marty Lyons, EJ Junior, Football Freddie Sington, John Henry Suther, Pooley Hubert..... I could go on all day.
Joe Namath - QB and Heart throb
Joe Recently Graduated
Ozzie Newsome
Johnny Mack Brown (Left)
Bart Starr
Ken Stabler's Run in the mud to beat Auburn
Stabler vs Nebraska in a GREAT picture
Jay Barker doing what Bama loves to do - Beat Tennessee
And Linebackers - Penn State has been dubbed as "Linebacker U", but the same term could be applied to Alabama as well. I would take Woodrow Lowe, Lee Roy Jordan, Derrick Thomas, Barry Krauss, Cornelius Bennett, DeMeco Ryans, and the Bama Linebacking Corps against those from any Program.
Derrick Thomas
DT - the best ever, mashes a Wolverine
Bama to KC
The Physical Woodrow Lowe
Cornelius Bennett
Barry Krauss Stands In on SI Cover
Many People consider the great Alabama Coaches to begin and end with Coach Paul Bryant, but there is far more to this story. Gene Stallings, Frank Thomas, and Wallace Wade all have National Championships on their resumes. Some Bama Coaching notables.................... Xen Scott 1919 - 1922 29-9-3Wallace Wade 1923 - 1930 61-13-3
Frank Thomas 1931-1946 115-24-7
Paul Bryant 1958-1982 232-46-9
Ray Perkins 1983-1986 32-15-1
Gene Stallings 1990-1997 70-16-1
Nick Saban Current 19-8-0
The Four Alabama Horsemen
Alabama was the driving force for Southern Football gaining its due respect on a National Scale. There were two pivotal wins in particular.............................
In 1922, Coach Xen Scott took his final team to Philadelphia to play Eastern Power and favored Penn. Captain Al Clemens said
Alabama won 9-7, and held an impromptu parade through the streets of Philadelphia. It was Coach Scott's last season, as he was sadly soon to die from throat cancer.The second groundbreaking game was when Coach Wallace Wade and the 1925 Alabama team traveled to the City of Angels for a Jan. 1, 1926 Rose Bowl game against double-digit favorite, the Washington Huskies.
Alabama won 20-19, and the greatest Bowl Tradition in NCAA history was born.
People claim there is a lot of pressure at Alabama, but as Coach Gene Stallings said........
However, maybe they have a point. Coach Wallace Wade received some criticism after his teams of 1927-29 produced winning records, but basically mediocre seasons. Whispers were that he "had lost his touch".
Sensitive to the comments, Wade announced the 1930 season would be his last. His team went undefeated, and received another Rose Bowl invite, to face Washington State.
Before the game, the great Governor Bibb Graves issued a statement that perhaps may help some here realize why Alabama Football was so important, maybe moreso than in these days.......................
Alabama went on to win 24-0, finishing as National Champions. Coach Wade went to Duke, where he experienced great success, and finished as Duke's all time wins leader. The Devils currentl play in Wallace Wade Stadium.Coach Bryant
Then there is Coach Bryant, and none like him. I firmly believe Coach Bryant and Coach Wooden of UCLA are the two greatest ever in their sports. Coach Bryant influenced, helped, challenged, thousands of successful people, some of whom he never met. He was also able to realize his limitations, and make changes - like travelling to Austin, Texas, and learning the principles of the Wishbone from Darrell Royal.
Coach Bryant had experienced a couple of mediocre seasons in the late 1960s, and realized change was needed. That was one of his great strengths - being able to adapt, and also understanding to succeed at the highest level, you need to surround yourself with good people, in all areas.
You need good people on the field, in the coaches offices, in administrative positions, everywhere there is a job to be done. Coach Bryant understood this.
"If anything goes bad, I did it. If anything goes semi-good, we did it. If anything goes really good, then you did it. That's all it takes to get people to win football games for you." - Coach Paul Bryant
Coach Bryant and some fans
Coach Bryant on the Goal Post
TOUGHNESS
I think that says it all, and also speaks on our hatred of Tennessee."Rammer Jammer" The Vols, always a good time!!!
Some other Alabama Facts, History, and Tradition......................................
How the Crimson Tide Got its Name
In early newspaper accounts of Alabama football, the team was simply listed as the "varsity" or the "Crimson White" after the school colors.
The first nickname to become popular and used by headline writers was the "Thin Red Line." The nickname was used until 1906.
The name "Crimson Tide" is supposed to have first been used by Hugh Roberts, former sports editor of the Birmingham Age-Herald. He used "Crimson Tide" in describing an Alabama-Auburn game played in Birmingham in 1907, the last football contest between the two schools until 1948 when the series was resumed. The game was played in a sea of mud and Auburn was a heavy favorite to win.
But, evidently, the "Thin Red Line" played a great game in the red mud and held Auburn to a 6-6 tie, thus gaining the name "Crimson Tide." Zipp Newman, former sports editor of the Birmingham News, probably popularized the name more than any other writer.
The Elephant Story
The story of how Alabama became associated with the "elephant" goes back to the 1930 season when Coach Wallace Wade had assembled a great football team.
On October 8, 1930, sports writer Everett Strupper of the Atlanta Journal wrote a story of the Alabama-Mississippi game he had witnessed in Tuscaloosa four days earlier. Strupper wrote, "That Alabama team of 1930 is a typical Wade machine, powerful, big, tough, fast, aggressive, well-schooled in fundamentals, and the best blocking team for this early in the season that I have ever seen. When those big brutes hit you I mean you go down and stay down, often for an additional two minutes.
"Coach Wade started his second team that was plenty big and they went right to their knitting scoring a touchdown in the first quarter against one of the best fighting small lines that I have seen. For Ole Miss was truly battling the big boys for every inch of ground.
"At the end of the quarter, the earth started to tremble, there was a distant rumble that continued to grow. Some excited fan in the stands bellowed, 'Hold your horses, the elephants are coming,' and out stamped this Alabama varsity.
"It was the first time that I had seen it and the size of the entire eleven nearly knocked me cold, men that I had seen play last year looking like they had nearly doubled in size."
Strupper and other writers continued to refer to the Alabama linemen as "Red Elephants," the color referring to the crimson jerseys.
The 1930 team posted an overall 10-0 record. It shut out eight opponents and allowed only 13 points all season while scoring 217. The "Red Elephants" rolled over Washington State 24-0 in the Rose Bowl and were declared National Champions.
Yea Alabama
Yea, Alabama! Drown 'em Tide!
Every 'Bama man's behind you,
Hit your stride.
Go teach the Bulldogs to behave,
Send the Yellow Jackets to a watery grave.
And if a man starts to weaken,
That's a shame!
For Bama's pluck and grit have
Writ her name in Crimson flame.
Fight on, fight on, fight on men!
Remember the Rose Bowl, we'll win then.
So roll on to victory,
Hit your stride,
You're Dixie's football pride,
Crimson Tide, Roll Tide, Roll Tide!!
TENNESSEE WEEK
TennesseeMain article: Third Saturday in OctoberDespite the heated in-state rivalry with Auburn, Bear Bryant was more adamant about defeating his rivals to the north, the Tennessee Volunteers. The series is named the Third Saturday in October, the traditional calendar date on which the game was played. Despite the name, the game has only been played on the third Saturday five times between 1995–2007. The first game between the two sides was played in 1901 in Birmingham, ending in a 6–6 tie. From 1902 to 1913, Alabama dominated the series, only losing once, and never allowing a touchdown by the Volunteers. Beginning in 1928, the rivalry was first played on its traditional date and began to be a challenge for the Tide as Robert Neyland began challenging Alabama for their perennial spot on top of the conference standings.[98] In the 1950s, Jim Goostree, the head trainer for Alabama, began another tradition as he began handing out cigars following a victory over the Volunteers.
Between 1971–1981, Alabama held an eleven-game winning streak over the Volunteers and, between 1986–1994, a nine-game unbeaten streak. However, following Alabama's streak, Tennessee responded with a seven-game winning streak from 1995–2001. Starting with their 2001 meeting, each team has split the series with four wins each. Alabama won the most recent game 29–9 in 2008, and lead the series 46–38–7
Some Bama Photos.........................................
Coach Bryant and Joe Namath
1935 Rose Bowl
Bama Fans Sara Evans and Eva Longoria
Jay and his wife at the CMT awards - who picked that outfit?
The Great Goal Line Stand vs Penn State in 1979
Cheerleader Sela Ward
Crimsonettes
Cheerleader
Cheerleaders
Pair of Cuties
Another cutie'
Cheereaders at Denny Chimes
Nick Saban leads The Tide out
Saban showing an official some love
Lt Colonel Wallace Wade (left)
Frank Thomas and players across from "The Corner Store"
Gene Stallings and a great Bama Fan - Son John Mark
Coach Stallings and Johnny on the field the day before crushing Miami
Johnny Musso soars over Auburn in 1971 (SI Cover)
Musso running over The Rebels
Tensed up Cheerleader
So, that is Alabama. So close to #1, it is painful.
The 1966 and 1977 pollster bias is the difference, in my opinion. Hard to swallow, for Bama fans, but in the words of Coach Bryant.............................
"Congratulations to Notre Dame"
ROLL TIDE ROLL !!!
I will end with a collection of great quotes from Coach Bryant
......................Mama wanted me to be a preacher. I told her coachin' and preachin' were a lot alike."
"But it's still a coach's game. Make no mistake. You start at the top. If you don't have a good one at the top, you don't have a cut dog's chance. If you do, the rest falls into place. You have to have good assistants, and a lot of things, but first you have to have the chairman of the board.""If anything goes bad, I did it. If anything goes semi-good, we did it. If anything goes really good, then you did it. That's all it takes to get people to win football games for you."
"I think the most important thing of all for any team is a winning attitude. The coaches must have it. The players must have it. The student body must have it. If you have dedicated players who believe in themselves, you don't need a lot of talent."
"The idea of molding men means a lot to me."
"You must learn how to hold a team together. You must lift some men up, calm others down, until finally they've got one heartbeat. Then you've got yourself a team."
"If wanting to win is a fault, as some of my critics seem to insist, then I plead guilty. I like to win. I know no other way. It's in my blood."
"The old lessons (work, self-discipline, sacrifice, teamwork, fighting to achieve) aren't being taught by many people other than football coaches these days. The football coach has a captive audience and can teach these lessons because the communication lines between himself and his players are more wide open than between kids and parents. We better teach these lessons or else the country's future population will be made up of a majority of crooks, drug addicts, or people on relief."
"Sacrifice. Work. Self-discipline. I teach these things, and my boys don't forget them when they leave
"It's not the will to win that matters - everyone has that. It's the will to prepare to win that matters
"I'll never give up on a player regardless of his ability as long as he never gives up on himself. In time he will develop."
"I'll never give up on a player regardless of his ability as long as he never gives up on himself. In time he will develop."
Set goals - high goals for you and your organization. When your organization has a goal to shoot for, you create teamwork, people working for a common good."
You have to learn what makes this or that Sammy run. For one it's a pat on the back, for another it's eating him out, for still another it's a fatherly talk, or something else. You're a fool if you think as I did as a young coach, that you can treat them all alike."
If a man is a quitter, I'd rather find out in practice than in a game. I ask for all a player has so I'll know later what I can expect."
Find your own picture, your own self in anything that goes bad. It's awfully easy to mouth off at your staff or chew out players, but if it's bad, and you’re the head coach, you're responsible. If we have an intercepted pass, I threw it. I'm the head coach. If we get a punt blocked, I caused it. A bad practice, a bad game, it's up to the head coach to assume his responsibility."
It's awfully important to win with humility. It's also important to lose. I hate to lose worse than anyone, but if you never lose you won't know how to act. If you lose with humility, then you can come back."
Losing doesn't make me want to quit. It makes me want to fight that much harder."
The biggest mistake coaches make is taking borderline cases and trying to save them. I'm not talking about grades now, I'm talking about character. I want to know before a boy enrolls about his home life, and what his parents want him to be."
Be aware of "yes" men. Generally, they are losers. Surround yourself with winners. Never forget - people win."
If there is one thing that has helped me as a coach, it's my ability to recognize winners, or good people who can become winners by paying the price."
"You take those little rascals, talk to them good, pat them on the back, let them think they are good, and they will go out and beat the biguns."
"If you want to coach you have three rules to follow to win. One, surround yourself with people who can't live without football. I've had a lot of them. Two, be able to recognize winners. They come in all forms. And, three, have a plan for everything. A plan for practice, a plan for the game. A plan for being ahead, and a plan for being behind 20-0 at half, with your quarterback hurt and the phones dead, with it raining cats and dogs and no rain gear because the equipment man left it at home."
My approach to the game has been the same at all the places I've been. Vanilla. The sure way. That means, first of all, to win physically. If you got eleven on a field, and they beat the other eleven physically, they'll win. They will start forcing mistakes. They'll win in the fourth quarter."
"Little things make the difference. Everyone is well prepared in the big things, but only the winners perfect the little things."
"But there's one thing about quitters you have to guard against - they are contagious. If one boy goes, the chances are he'll take somebody with him, and you don't want that. So when they would start acting that way, I used to pack them up and get them out, or embarrass them, or do something to turn them around."
People who are in it for their own good are individualists. They don't share the same heartbeat that makes a team so great. A great unit, whether it be football or any organization, shares the same heartbeat."
If you believe in yourself and have dedication and pride - and never quit - you'll be a winner. The price of victory is high but so are the rewards."
"I have always tried to teach my players to be fighters. When I say that, I don't mean put up your dukes and get in a fistfight over something. I'm talking about facing adversity in your life. There is not a person alive who isn't going to have some awfully bad days in their lives. I tell my players that what I mean by fighting is when your house burns down, and your wife runs off with the drummer, and you've lost your job and all the odds are against you. What are you going to do? Most people just lay down and quit. Well, I want my people to fight back."
I always want my players to show class, knock'em down, pat on the back, and run back to the huddle."
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Joe Paterno
Footballguy
Thread implodes in 3....2....1....
gmbacm
Footballguy
I am admittedly surprised.
saintsfan
Footballguy
I'm not. I think he's done a pretty good job. Of course some of the college football zealots don't think so. That's because college football fandom is a form of insanity.Only the biggest homer in the world wouldn't have the Golden Domes at #1. I think his rankings are solid.
TidesofWar
Footballguy
So, we have reached the top spot. Guess having the luck of a leprechaun, and The Pope on your side means something after all, and #1 Moses and a Touchdown Jesus probably do not hurt either.
I wish it were Alabama, it is so close to being Alabama, or several other Programs, but as Coach Bryant said after the 1977 pollster screw job, "Congrats to .............................
#1 - THE NOTRE DAME FIGHTING IRISH
Play the Notre Dame Victory March
Notre Dame began playing football in 1887, and have compiled an 831-285-41 record in that span. Only Texas and Michigan have more wins, and the Irish rank second in winning percentage at .736, a scant .002 behind Michigan.
As an Independent, Notre Dame owns no Conference Championships, but have experienced success like no other on the national stage.
Notre Dame officially claims eleven "Consensus" National Championships, and have been named as Champion eight other times by at least one recognized selector.
From www.und.com
Here are Notre Dame's 11 consensus seasons:
Year Team Record Coach Selector
1924 Notre Dame 10-0 Knute Rockne DS, Helms, Boand, FR, Houl,
NCF, Poling
Pennsylvania 9-1-1 Lou Young Davis
1929 Notre Dame 9-0 Knute Rockne DS, Dunkel, Boand, Helms, FR,
NCF, Poling
Pittsburgh 9-1 J. Sutherland Davis
USC 10-2 Howard Jones Houlgate
1930 Notre Dame 10-0 Knute Rockne All but FR, tie for Davis
Alabama 10-0 Wallace Wade Davis (tie), FR
1943 Notre Dame 9-1 Frank Leahy Unanimous
1946 Notre Dame 8-0-1 Frank Leahy AP, Dunkel, LS, Devold, NCF,
Helms (tie), Boand (tie), Poling (tie)
Army 9-0-1 Red Blaik Houlgate, FR, Boand (tie), Helms (tie),
Poling (tie)
Georgia 11-0 Wally Butts WS
1947 Notre Dame 9-0 Frank Leahy AP, WS, Helms (tie)
Michigan 10-0 Fritz Crisler Dunkel, LS, Houlgate, Helms (tie),
Boand, FR, Devold, NCF, Poling
1949 Notre Dame 10-0 Frank Leahy All but FR
Oklahoma 11-0 Bud Wilkinson FR
1966 Notre Dame 9-0-1 Ara Parseghian AP, UPI, FWAA, Dunkel,LS,
Devold, FN, Matthews,
NFFHF (tie), Helms (tie)
Michigan State 9-0-1 D. Daugherty FR, Helms (tie), NFFHF (tie)
1973 Notre Dame 11-0 Ara Parseghian AP, FWAA, NFFHF, Helms, FN
Alabama 10-1 Bear Bryant UPI
Oklahoma 10-0-1 Barry Switzer Dunkel, FR, Devold
1977 Notre Dame 11-1 Dan Devine All but FR (tie)
Alabama 11-1 Bear Bryant FR (tie)
1988 Notre Dame 12-0 Lou Holtz Unanimous
Here are the other eight seasons Notre Dame received some mention:
1919 Harvard 9-0-1 Bob Fisher Unanimous
Notre Dame 9-0 Knute Rockne Davis (tie), NCF
Illinois 6-1 Bob Zuppke Davis (tie), FR (tie), Boand
1920 California 9-0 Andy Smith Helms, FR, Houl.,NCF
Notre Dame 9-0 Knute Rockne Davis (tie)
Princeton 6-0-1 Bill Roper Davis (tie), Boand (tie)
Harvard 8-0-1 Robert Fisher Boand (tie)
1927 Illinois 7-0-1 Bob Zuppke DS, Davis, Helms, NCF
Yale 7-1 T.A.D. Jones FR
Notre Dame 7-1-1 Knute Rockne Houl.
Georgia 9-1 G. Woodruff Boand, Poling
1938 Tennessee 11-0 Bob Neyland Dunkel, LS, Boand, Houl.,FR, Poling
TCU 11-0 Dutch Meyer AP,WS, Helms, NCF
Notre Dame 8-1 Elmer Layden DS
1953 Notre Dame 9-0-1 Frank Leahy All but AP, UP, FRI
Maryland 10-1 Jim Tatum AP, UPI
Oklahoma 9-1-1 Bud Wilkinson FR
1964 Alabama 10-1 Bear Bryant AP,UPI, LS
Arkansas 11-0 Frank Broyles FWAA, Helms, FR
Notre Dame 9-1 Ara Parseghian NFFHF, Devold, FN
Michigan 9-1 Bump Elliott Dunkel
1967 USC 10-1 John McKay All but Dunkel, LS
Notre Dame 8-2 Ara Parseghian Dunkel
Tennessee 9-2 Doug Dickey LS
1970 Nebraska 11-0-1 Bob Devaney AP, FWAA, Dunkel, Helms, FR, Devold, FN
Texas 10-1 Darrell Royal UPI, LS, NFFHF (tie)
Ohio State 9-1 Woody Hayes NFFHF (tie)
Notre Dame 10-1 Ara Parseghian Matthews
Notre Dame has of course produced many of the greatest players in the game, and are tied with USC and Ohio State with seven Heisman winners.
The seven Heisman winners are Angelo Bertelli, Johnny Lujack, Leon Hart, Johnny Lattner, Paul Hornung, John Huarte, and Tim Brown.
Some other Irish greats include...............................
Whitey Beinor, Bob Kelly, Frank Dancewicz, Bob Williams, Terry Hanratty, Joe Theisman, Vagas Ferguson, Ken MacAfee, Ross Browner, Brady Quinn, Raghib Ismail, Jim Lynch, Elmer Layden, Bob Crable, Luther Bradley, Mike Townsend,.................. Again, please add your own favorite or "Most Hated" Golden Domer!
Notre Dame has also produced some of the most legendary Head Coaches in College Football History - the names and records below speak for themselves.......................
Knute Kenneth Rockne 1918-1930 105-12-5 .881
Elmer F. Layden 1934-1940 47-13-3 .770
Frank Leahy 1941-43, 46-53 87-11-9 .855
Ara Parseghian 1964-1974 95-17-4 .836
Dan Devine 1975-1980 53-16-1 .764
Lou Holtz 1986-1996 100-30-2 .765
Now for the many Legends, traditions, and history of Notre Dame................
The Four Horsemen
The Four Horsemen of Notre Dame comprised a winning group of American football players at the University of Notre Dame under coach Knute Rockne. They were the legendary backfield of Notre Dame's 1924 football team. The players that made up this group were Harry Stuhldreher, Don Miller, Jim Crowley, and Elmer Layden.
In 1924, a dramatic nickname coined by a poetic sportswriter and the quick-thinking actions of a clever student publicity aide transformed the Notre Dame backfield of Stuhldreher, Crowley, Miller and Layden into the most fabled quartet in college football history, the Four Horsemen of Notre Dame.
Quarterback Harry Stuhldreher, left halfback Jim Crowley, right halfback Don Miller and fullback Elmer Layden had run rampant through Irish opponents' defenses since coach Knute Rockne devised the lineup in 1922 during their sophomore season
The foursome needed some help from Grantland Rice, a sportswriter for the former New York Herald Tribune, to achieve football immortality. After Notre Dame's 13-7 upset victory over a strong Army team, on October 18, 1924, Rice penned a famous passage of sports journalism:
"Outlined against a blue-gray October sky, the Four Horsemen rode again. In dramatic lore they are known as famine, pestilence, destruction and death. These are only aliases. Their real names are: Stuhldreher, Miller, Crowley and Layden. They formed the crest of the South Bend cyclone before which another fighting Army team was swept over the precipice at the Polo Grounds this afternoon as 55,000 spectators peered down upon the bewildering panorama spread out upon the green plain below."
The Four Horsemen
The Fighting Irish
Exactly where and how Notre Dame's athletic nickname, "Fighting Irish," came to origination never has been perfectly explained.
One story suggests the moniker was born in 1899 with Notre Dame leading Northwestern 5-0 at halftime of a game in Evanston, Ill. The Wildcat fans supposedly began to chant, "Kill the Fighting Irish, kill the Fighting Irish," as the second half opened.
Another tale has the nickname originating at halftime of the Notre Dame-Michigan game in 1909. With his team trailing, one Notre Dame player yelled to his teammates - who happened to have names like Dolan, Kelly, Glynn, Duffy and Ryan - "What's the matter with you guys? You're all Irish and you're not fighting worth a lick."
Notre Dame came back to win the game and press, after overhearing the remark, reported the game as a victory for the "Fighting Irish."
The most generally accepted explanation is that the press coined the nickname as a characterization of Notre Dame athletic teams, their never-say-die fighting spirit and the Irish qualities of grit, determination and tenacity. The term likely began as an abusive expression tauntingly directed toward the athletes from the small, private, Catholic institution. Notre Dame alumnus Francis Wallace popularized it in his New York Daily News columns in the 1920s.
The Notre Dame Scholastic, in a 1929 edition, printed its own version of the story:
"The term 'Fighting Irish' has been applied to Notre Dame teams for years. It first attached itself years ago when the school, comparatively unknown, sent its athletic teams away to play in another city ...At that time the title 'Fighting Irish' held no glory or prestige ...
"The years passed swiftly and the school began to take a place in the sports world ...'Fighting Irish' took on a new meaning. The unknown of a few years past has boldly taken a place among the leaders. The unkind appellation became symbolic of the struggle for supremacy of the field. ...The team, while given in irony, has become our heritage. ...So truly does it represent us that we unwilling to part with it ..."
Notre Dame competed under the nickname "Catholics" during the 1800s and became more widely known as the "Ramblers" during the early 1920s in the days of the Four Horsemen.
University president Rev. Matthew Walsh, C.S.C., officially adopted "Fighting irish" as the Notre Dame nickname in 1927.
Gold And Blue
Although Notre Dame's official colors for athletics long have been listed as gold and blue, the color of the Irish home football jersey has switched back and forth between blue and green for more than 50 years.
The origin of school colors can be traced back to the founding of the University. At the time of its founding in 1842, Notre Dame's original school colors were yellow and blue; yellow symbolized the light and blue the truth. However, sometime after the Dome and Statue of Mary atop the Main Building was gilded, gold and blue became the official colors of the University.
The 1984 season marked the last change in game uniform as the Irish returned to the standard navy blue worn throughout the Ara Parseghian years and early portion of the Dan Devine era. The gold Irish helmets and pants remained unchanged.
When Gerry Faust took over in 1981, Notre Dame went to royal blue jerseys with three one-inch stripes on the sleeves, two gold surrounding one white. But the stripes were eliminated on the '84 tops, which didn't feature any trim or feathering other than the white numbers on the navy blue shirts. Lou Holtz's only change beginning in '86 involved adding the interlocked Notre Dame logo to the shoulder of the jerseys and to the left front side of the pants.
That logo on the pants switched from blue to green beginning in '95. The change from green to royal blue in '81 marked the first switch since Notre Dame made the move to green beginning with the 49-19 victory over USC October 22, 1977. The Irish had worn navy blue all during Parseghian's 11 seasons and through the first two-and-a-half years of the Devine era — but they had stayed with the green ever since the victory over the Trojans. However, even Faust made use of the green jerseys on two occasions. He outfitted his Irish in green in a 27-6 win over USC in '83 — six years to the day after Devine first went to the green in a win over those same Trojans. The Irish also wore green during the second half of the 37-3 win over USC in '85.
For the first time during Holtz's tenure as head coach, the Irish used green as part of their uniform in the 1992 Sugar Bowl as they donned white jerseys with green numbers and green socks. The last time the Irish had worn their road white jerseys with green numbers was in the Superdome in Notre Dame's loss to Georgia in the Sugar Bowl 17-10 exactly 11 years earlier.
Notre Dame again wore green jersey in a 41-24 loss to Colorado in the '95 Fiesta Bowl and donned the green against Georgia Tech in the '99 Gator Bowl — a 35-28 loss.
Back in the 1920s during the Knute Rockne days, the Notre Dame varsity generally wore blue while the freshman squad wore green. But, on several occasions the varsity team did wear green — simply for purposes of distinction when the Irish opponent also came out in blue. Games against Navy, for example, in the late 1920s featured green-clad Notre Dame teams, to avoid confusion with the Navy's blue uniforms.
Rockne didn't mind using the color change as a psychological ploy. When Notre Dame faced Navy in Baltimore in 1927, the Irish head coach started his second-string reserves. Navy retaliated by scoring a touchdown in the first five minutes of the game. But, just as the Midshipmen scored, reported George Trevor in the New York Sun, Rockne made his move:
''Instantaneously the Notre Dame regulars yanked off their blue outer sweaters and like a horde of green Gila monsters darted onto the field. From that moment on Notre Dame held the initiative, imposed its collective will upon the Navy.''
The Irish came from behind to win that one 19-6 — then did the same thing the following year in Chicago's Soldier Field, this time beating Navy 7-0. The 1928 edition of the Scholastic Football Review included this description:
''Mr. K. K. Rockne may, or may not, be a psychologist. But, he did array his Fighting Irish in bright green jerseys for their battle with the United States Naval Academy. Mr. Rockne evidently surmised that garbing a band of native and adopted Irish in their native color is somewhat akin to showing a bull the Russian flag.''
The green jerseys remained prominent throughout the Frank Leahy years — particularly so in September of 1947 when Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Lujack graced the cover of Life magazine clad in green. Several of Joe Kuharich's squads wore green with UCLA-style shoulder stripes and shamrocks on the helmets. Even Hugh Devore's 1963 team — after wearing navy blue all season — switched to green in the finale against Syracuse.
Faust's return to blue came after the new Irish coach suggested some research into the University archives to determine the history of Notre Dame's gold and blue colors.
Those findings indicated the blue color was actually Madonna blue,a light blue shade, as opposed to the navy blue shade that has been most common in recent Notre Dame uniforms.
The Leprechaun
In keeping with the nickname Fighting Irish and the Irish folklore, the Leprechaun serves as the Notre Dame mascot.
The Notre Dame logo features a side view of the figure with his dukes up, ready to battle anyone that comes his way. The live version is a student, chosen annually at tryouts, dressed in a cutaway green suit and Irish country hat.
The Leprechaun brandishes a shillelagh and agressively leads cheers and interacts with the crowd, supposedly bringing magical powers and good luck to the Notre Dame team.
The Leprechaun wasn't always the official mascot of Notre Dame - for years the team was represented by a series of Irish terrier dogs. The first, named Brick Top Shuan-Rhu, was donated by one Charles Otis of Cleveland and presented to Irish head coach Knute Rockne the weekend of the Notre Dame-Pennsylvania game Nov. 8, 1930.
A number of terriers later took the role of the school mascot, which usually took the name Clashmore Mike. The Clashmore Mike mascot last made an appearance on the cover of the 1963 Notre Dame Football Dope Book with coach Hugh Devore and captain Bob Lehmann.
The Leprechaun was named the official mascot in 1965.
Notre Dame Victory March
Without a doubt the most recognizable collegiate fight song in the nation, the "Notre Dame Victory March" was written just past the turn of the century by two brothers who were University of Notre Dame graduates.
Michael J. Shea, a 1905 graduate, wrote the music and his brother, John F. Shea, who earned degrees in 1906 and 1908, wrote the words. The song was copyrighted in 1908 and a piano verson, complete with lyrics, was published that year.
Michael, who became a priest in Ossining, N.Y., collaborated on the project with John, who lived in Holyoke, Mass. The song's public debut came in the winter of 1908 when Michael played it on the organ of the Second Congregational Church in Holyoke.
The "Notre Dame Victory March" later was presented by the Shea brothers to the University and it first appeared under the copyright of the University of Notre dame in 1928. The copyright was assigned to the publishing company of Edwin H. Morris and the copyright for the beginning of the song is still in effect.
The words and music which begin with the words "Cheer, cheer for Old Notre Dame" are in the public domain in the United States, but are protected in all territories outside of the country.
Notre Dame's fight song was first performed at Notre Dame on Easter Sunday, 1909, in the rotunda of the Administration Building. The University of Notre Dame band, under the direction of Prof. Clarence Peterson, played it as part of its athletic event 10 years later. In 1969, as college football celebrated its centennial, the "Notre Dame Victory March" was honored as the "greatest of all fight songs."
Michael Shea was the pastor of St. Augustine's Church in Ossining until his death in 1938. John Shea, a baseball monogram winner at Notre Dame, became a Massachusetts state senator and live in Holyoke until his death in 1965.
Lyrics:
Knute Rockne became head coach in 1918. Under Rockne the Irish would post a record of 105 wins, 12 losses, and 5 ties. During his 13 years the Irish won six national championships, had five undefeated seasons, won the Rose Bowl in 1925, and produced players such as the "Four Horsemen,". Knute Rockne has the highest win percentage (.881) in college football history.Among the events that occurred during Rockne's tenure none may be more famous than the Rockne's Win one for the Gipper speech. George "the Gipper" Gipp was a player on Rockne's earlier teams who died of strep throat in 1920. Army came into the 1928 matchup undefeated and was the clear favorite. Notre Dame, on the other hand, was having their worst season under Rockne's leadership and entered the game with a 4–2 record. At the end of the half Army was leading and looked to be in command of the game. Rockne entered the locker room and gave his account of Gipp's final words: "I've got to go, Rock. It's all right. I'm not afraid. Some time, Rock, when the team is up against it, when things are going wrong and the breaks are beating the boys, tell them to go in there with all they've got and win just one for the Gipper. I don't know where I'll be then, Rock. But I'll know about it, and I'll be happy." The speech, although possibly fictional, inspired the team and they went on to upset Army and win the game 12–6.
The last game Rockne coached was on December 14, 1930 when he led a group of Notre Dame All Stars against the New York Giants in New York City. The game[35] raised funds for the Mayor's Relief Committee for the Unemployed and Needy of the city. Fifty-thousand fans turned out to see the reunited "Four Horsemen" along with players from Rockne's other championship teams take the field against the pros.[36]
Rockne died in the plane crash of TWA Flight 599 in Kansas on March 31, 1931, while on his way to help in the production of the film The Spirit of Notre Dame. The crash site, located in a remote expanse of Kansas known as the Flint Hills, now features a Rockne Memorial.[37] Knute Rockne is considered to be one of the best football coaches in the history of football, professional or college level.
Rockne was the subject of the 1940 film Knute Rockne, All American.
Due to its long and storied history, Notre Dame football boasts many traditions unique to Notre Dame. Some of these are:
Prior to each game, Notre Dame students paint all football helmets gold, using paint containing real gold dust.[28]
Prior to the start of the game, the team attends mass in formal attire at the Sacred Heart Basilica. At the conclusion of mass, fans form a line from the chapel to the stadium, which the team walks through.[75]
Coming out of the locker room, players slap the famous "Play Like a Champion Today" sign.
Between the third and fourth quarters of home games, the Notre Dame Marching Band plays the finale to the 1812 Overture, as the crowd reacts with synchronized waving of arms, with their fingers in the shape of a letter designating the name of the head coach
Since 1961, Sergeant Tim McCarthy for the Indiana State Police has read out a driving safety announcement to the crowd during the fourth quarter. When Sergeant McCarthy begins his announcement, the crowd goes silent to hear his message, which invariably ends with a pun.[76]
At the conclusion of every home game, the team turns to the student section to salute them by raising their helmets in the air. They do this after a win or after a loss.[75]
At the conclusion of every home game, the band plays the Alma Mater, "Notre Dame, Our Mother". Those who stay link arms and sing the lyrics.Play "The Rakes of Mallow"
Some Notre Dame Photos............................
Notre Dame Stadium
Touchdown Jesus
#1 Moses
The Golden Dome
A Gorgeous Campus
Another Dome view
UND in winter
Black and White Winter shot
Knute
Knute again
Rockne teaches
Rockne the Fashion Plate
Ronald Reagan as George Gipp
Babe Ruth - A Goldeb Domer?
Johnny Lujack
Angelo Bertelli
Leprechauns
Leprechaun again
Frank Leahy
Lou Holtz leads 'em out
Play like a Champion Today
1973 Sugar Bowl Play that broke my heart
Bigger picture of play
Coaches Bryant and Parseghian before the game
The Band of The Fighting Irish
Band and Leprechaun
Irish Cheerleaders
Blonde Cheerleader
Sweet Smile
Final Cheerleader for this countdown
So, The Irish hold on, with a lot of skill and a little luck. Had the 1966 or 1977 votes gone for Alabama, like at least one probably should have, The Tide would be high. If USC or Oklahoma managed another National Championship in the last decade, they would be higher, and maybe at the top.
With the Irish reeling, and the three Programs behind them resurgent, it may be just a matter of time before Notre Dame is not just reeling, but reeled in.
But, for another year, I must say......................................
SHAKE DOWN THE THUNDER AND WAKE UP THE ECHOES!!!!
I wish it were Alabama, it is so close to being Alabama, or several other Programs, but as Coach Bryant said after the 1977 pollster screw job, "Congrats to .............................
#1 - THE NOTRE DAME FIGHTING IRISH
Play the Notre Dame Victory March
Notre Dame began playing football in 1887, and have compiled an 831-285-41 record in that span. Only Texas and Michigan have more wins, and the Irish rank second in winning percentage at .736, a scant .002 behind Michigan.
As an Independent, Notre Dame owns no Conference Championships, but have experienced success like no other on the national stage.
Notre Dame officially claims eleven "Consensus" National Championships, and have been named as Champion eight other times by at least one recognized selector.
From www.und.com
Here are Notre Dame's 11 consensus seasons:
Year Team Record Coach Selector
1924 Notre Dame 10-0 Knute Rockne DS, Helms, Boand, FR, Houl,
NCF, Poling
Pennsylvania 9-1-1 Lou Young Davis
1929 Notre Dame 9-0 Knute Rockne DS, Dunkel, Boand, Helms, FR,
NCF, Poling
Pittsburgh 9-1 J. Sutherland Davis
USC 10-2 Howard Jones Houlgate
1930 Notre Dame 10-0 Knute Rockne All but FR, tie for Davis
Alabama 10-0 Wallace Wade Davis (tie), FR
1943 Notre Dame 9-1 Frank Leahy Unanimous
1946 Notre Dame 8-0-1 Frank Leahy AP, Dunkel, LS, Devold, NCF,
Helms (tie), Boand (tie), Poling (tie)
Army 9-0-1 Red Blaik Houlgate, FR, Boand (tie), Helms (tie),
Poling (tie)
Georgia 11-0 Wally Butts WS
1947 Notre Dame 9-0 Frank Leahy AP, WS, Helms (tie)
Michigan 10-0 Fritz Crisler Dunkel, LS, Houlgate, Helms (tie),
Boand, FR, Devold, NCF, Poling
1949 Notre Dame 10-0 Frank Leahy All but FR
Oklahoma 11-0 Bud Wilkinson FR
1966 Notre Dame 9-0-1 Ara Parseghian AP, UPI, FWAA, Dunkel,LS,
Devold, FN, Matthews,
NFFHF (tie), Helms (tie)
Michigan State 9-0-1 D. Daugherty FR, Helms (tie), NFFHF (tie)
1973 Notre Dame 11-0 Ara Parseghian AP, FWAA, NFFHF, Helms, FN
Alabama 10-1 Bear Bryant UPI
Oklahoma 10-0-1 Barry Switzer Dunkel, FR, Devold
1977 Notre Dame 11-1 Dan Devine All but FR (tie)
Alabama 11-1 Bear Bryant FR (tie)
1988 Notre Dame 12-0 Lou Holtz Unanimous
Here are the other eight seasons Notre Dame received some mention:
1919 Harvard 9-0-1 Bob Fisher Unanimous
Notre Dame 9-0 Knute Rockne Davis (tie), NCF
Illinois 6-1 Bob Zuppke Davis (tie), FR (tie), Boand
1920 California 9-0 Andy Smith Helms, FR, Houl.,NCF
Notre Dame 9-0 Knute Rockne Davis (tie)
Princeton 6-0-1 Bill Roper Davis (tie), Boand (tie)
Harvard 8-0-1 Robert Fisher Boand (tie)
1927 Illinois 7-0-1 Bob Zuppke DS, Davis, Helms, NCF
Yale 7-1 T.A.D. Jones FR
Notre Dame 7-1-1 Knute Rockne Houl.
Georgia 9-1 G. Woodruff Boand, Poling
1938 Tennessee 11-0 Bob Neyland Dunkel, LS, Boand, Houl.,FR, Poling
TCU 11-0 Dutch Meyer AP,WS, Helms, NCF
Notre Dame 8-1 Elmer Layden DS
1953 Notre Dame 9-0-1 Frank Leahy All but AP, UP, FRI
Maryland 10-1 Jim Tatum AP, UPI
Oklahoma 9-1-1 Bud Wilkinson FR
1964 Alabama 10-1 Bear Bryant AP,UPI, LS
Arkansas 11-0 Frank Broyles FWAA, Helms, FR
Notre Dame 9-1 Ara Parseghian NFFHF, Devold, FN
Michigan 9-1 Bump Elliott Dunkel
1967 USC 10-1 John McKay All but Dunkel, LS
Notre Dame 8-2 Ara Parseghian Dunkel
Tennessee 9-2 Doug Dickey LS
1970 Nebraska 11-0-1 Bob Devaney AP, FWAA, Dunkel, Helms, FR, Devold, FN
Texas 10-1 Darrell Royal UPI, LS, NFFHF (tie)
Ohio State 9-1 Woody Hayes NFFHF (tie)
Notre Dame 10-1 Ara Parseghian Matthews
Notre Dame has of course produced many of the greatest players in the game, and are tied with USC and Ohio State with seven Heisman winners.
The seven Heisman winners are Angelo Bertelli, Johnny Lujack, Leon Hart, Johnny Lattner, Paul Hornung, John Huarte, and Tim Brown.
Some other Irish greats include...............................
Whitey Beinor, Bob Kelly, Frank Dancewicz, Bob Williams, Terry Hanratty, Joe Theisman, Vagas Ferguson, Ken MacAfee, Ross Browner, Brady Quinn, Raghib Ismail, Jim Lynch, Elmer Layden, Bob Crable, Luther Bradley, Mike Townsend,.................. Again, please add your own favorite or "Most Hated" Golden Domer!
Notre Dame has also produced some of the most legendary Head Coaches in College Football History - the names and records below speak for themselves.......................
Knute Kenneth Rockne 1918-1930 105-12-5 .881
Elmer F. Layden 1934-1940 47-13-3 .770
Frank Leahy 1941-43, 46-53 87-11-9 .855
Ara Parseghian 1964-1974 95-17-4 .836
Dan Devine 1975-1980 53-16-1 .764
Lou Holtz 1986-1996 100-30-2 .765
Now for the many Legends, traditions, and history of Notre Dame................
The Four Horsemen
The Four Horsemen of Notre Dame comprised a winning group of American football players at the University of Notre Dame under coach Knute Rockne. They were the legendary backfield of Notre Dame's 1924 football team. The players that made up this group were Harry Stuhldreher, Don Miller, Jim Crowley, and Elmer Layden.
In 1924, a dramatic nickname coined by a poetic sportswriter and the quick-thinking actions of a clever student publicity aide transformed the Notre Dame backfield of Stuhldreher, Crowley, Miller and Layden into the most fabled quartet in college football history, the Four Horsemen of Notre Dame.
Quarterback Harry Stuhldreher, left halfback Jim Crowley, right halfback Don Miller and fullback Elmer Layden had run rampant through Irish opponents' defenses since coach Knute Rockne devised the lineup in 1922 during their sophomore season
The foursome needed some help from Grantland Rice, a sportswriter for the former New York Herald Tribune, to achieve football immortality. After Notre Dame's 13-7 upset victory over a strong Army team, on October 18, 1924, Rice penned a famous passage of sports journalism:
"Outlined against a blue-gray October sky, the Four Horsemen rode again. In dramatic lore they are known as famine, pestilence, destruction and death. These are only aliases. Their real names are: Stuhldreher, Miller, Crowley and Layden. They formed the crest of the South Bend cyclone before which another fighting Army team was swept over the precipice at the Polo Grounds this afternoon as 55,000 spectators peered down upon the bewildering panorama spread out upon the green plain below."
The Four Horsemen
The Fighting Irish
Exactly where and how Notre Dame's athletic nickname, "Fighting Irish," came to origination never has been perfectly explained.
One story suggests the moniker was born in 1899 with Notre Dame leading Northwestern 5-0 at halftime of a game in Evanston, Ill. The Wildcat fans supposedly began to chant, "Kill the Fighting Irish, kill the Fighting Irish," as the second half opened.
Another tale has the nickname originating at halftime of the Notre Dame-Michigan game in 1909. With his team trailing, one Notre Dame player yelled to his teammates - who happened to have names like Dolan, Kelly, Glynn, Duffy and Ryan - "What's the matter with you guys? You're all Irish and you're not fighting worth a lick."
Notre Dame came back to win the game and press, after overhearing the remark, reported the game as a victory for the "Fighting Irish."
The most generally accepted explanation is that the press coined the nickname as a characterization of Notre Dame athletic teams, their never-say-die fighting spirit and the Irish qualities of grit, determination and tenacity. The term likely began as an abusive expression tauntingly directed toward the athletes from the small, private, Catholic institution. Notre Dame alumnus Francis Wallace popularized it in his New York Daily News columns in the 1920s.
The Notre Dame Scholastic, in a 1929 edition, printed its own version of the story:
"The term 'Fighting Irish' has been applied to Notre Dame teams for years. It first attached itself years ago when the school, comparatively unknown, sent its athletic teams away to play in another city ...At that time the title 'Fighting Irish' held no glory or prestige ...
"The years passed swiftly and the school began to take a place in the sports world ...'Fighting Irish' took on a new meaning. The unknown of a few years past has boldly taken a place among the leaders. The unkind appellation became symbolic of the struggle for supremacy of the field. ...The team, while given in irony, has become our heritage. ...So truly does it represent us that we unwilling to part with it ..."
Notre Dame competed under the nickname "Catholics" during the 1800s and became more widely known as the "Ramblers" during the early 1920s in the days of the Four Horsemen.
University president Rev. Matthew Walsh, C.S.C., officially adopted "Fighting irish" as the Notre Dame nickname in 1927.
Gold And Blue
Although Notre Dame's official colors for athletics long have been listed as gold and blue, the color of the Irish home football jersey has switched back and forth between blue and green for more than 50 years.
The origin of school colors can be traced back to the founding of the University. At the time of its founding in 1842, Notre Dame's original school colors were yellow and blue; yellow symbolized the light and blue the truth. However, sometime after the Dome and Statue of Mary atop the Main Building was gilded, gold and blue became the official colors of the University.
The 1984 season marked the last change in game uniform as the Irish returned to the standard navy blue worn throughout the Ara Parseghian years and early portion of the Dan Devine era. The gold Irish helmets and pants remained unchanged.
When Gerry Faust took over in 1981, Notre Dame went to royal blue jerseys with three one-inch stripes on the sleeves, two gold surrounding one white. But the stripes were eliminated on the '84 tops, which didn't feature any trim or feathering other than the white numbers on the navy blue shirts. Lou Holtz's only change beginning in '86 involved adding the interlocked Notre Dame logo to the shoulder of the jerseys and to the left front side of the pants.
That logo on the pants switched from blue to green beginning in '95. The change from green to royal blue in '81 marked the first switch since Notre Dame made the move to green beginning with the 49-19 victory over USC October 22, 1977. The Irish had worn navy blue all during Parseghian's 11 seasons and through the first two-and-a-half years of the Devine era — but they had stayed with the green ever since the victory over the Trojans. However, even Faust made use of the green jerseys on two occasions. He outfitted his Irish in green in a 27-6 win over USC in '83 — six years to the day after Devine first went to the green in a win over those same Trojans. The Irish also wore green during the second half of the 37-3 win over USC in '85.
For the first time during Holtz's tenure as head coach, the Irish used green as part of their uniform in the 1992 Sugar Bowl as they donned white jerseys with green numbers and green socks. The last time the Irish had worn their road white jerseys with green numbers was in the Superdome in Notre Dame's loss to Georgia in the Sugar Bowl 17-10 exactly 11 years earlier.
Notre Dame again wore green jersey in a 41-24 loss to Colorado in the '95 Fiesta Bowl and donned the green against Georgia Tech in the '99 Gator Bowl — a 35-28 loss.
Back in the 1920s during the Knute Rockne days, the Notre Dame varsity generally wore blue while the freshman squad wore green. But, on several occasions the varsity team did wear green — simply for purposes of distinction when the Irish opponent also came out in blue. Games against Navy, for example, in the late 1920s featured green-clad Notre Dame teams, to avoid confusion with the Navy's blue uniforms.
Rockne didn't mind using the color change as a psychological ploy. When Notre Dame faced Navy in Baltimore in 1927, the Irish head coach started his second-string reserves. Navy retaliated by scoring a touchdown in the first five minutes of the game. But, just as the Midshipmen scored, reported George Trevor in the New York Sun, Rockne made his move:
''Instantaneously the Notre Dame regulars yanked off their blue outer sweaters and like a horde of green Gila monsters darted onto the field. From that moment on Notre Dame held the initiative, imposed its collective will upon the Navy.''
The Irish came from behind to win that one 19-6 — then did the same thing the following year in Chicago's Soldier Field, this time beating Navy 7-0. The 1928 edition of the Scholastic Football Review included this description:
''Mr. K. K. Rockne may, or may not, be a psychologist. But, he did array his Fighting Irish in bright green jerseys for their battle with the United States Naval Academy. Mr. Rockne evidently surmised that garbing a band of native and adopted Irish in their native color is somewhat akin to showing a bull the Russian flag.''
The green jerseys remained prominent throughout the Frank Leahy years — particularly so in September of 1947 when Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Lujack graced the cover of Life magazine clad in green. Several of Joe Kuharich's squads wore green with UCLA-style shoulder stripes and shamrocks on the helmets. Even Hugh Devore's 1963 team — after wearing navy blue all season — switched to green in the finale against Syracuse.
Faust's return to blue came after the new Irish coach suggested some research into the University archives to determine the history of Notre Dame's gold and blue colors.
Those findings indicated the blue color was actually Madonna blue,a light blue shade, as opposed to the navy blue shade that has been most common in recent Notre Dame uniforms.
The Leprechaun
In keeping with the nickname Fighting Irish and the Irish folklore, the Leprechaun serves as the Notre Dame mascot.
The Notre Dame logo features a side view of the figure with his dukes up, ready to battle anyone that comes his way. The live version is a student, chosen annually at tryouts, dressed in a cutaway green suit and Irish country hat.
The Leprechaun brandishes a shillelagh and agressively leads cheers and interacts with the crowd, supposedly bringing magical powers and good luck to the Notre Dame team.
The Leprechaun wasn't always the official mascot of Notre Dame - for years the team was represented by a series of Irish terrier dogs. The first, named Brick Top Shuan-Rhu, was donated by one Charles Otis of Cleveland and presented to Irish head coach Knute Rockne the weekend of the Notre Dame-Pennsylvania game Nov. 8, 1930.
A number of terriers later took the role of the school mascot, which usually took the name Clashmore Mike. The Clashmore Mike mascot last made an appearance on the cover of the 1963 Notre Dame Football Dope Book with coach Hugh Devore and captain Bob Lehmann.
The Leprechaun was named the official mascot in 1965.
Notre Dame Victory March
Without a doubt the most recognizable collegiate fight song in the nation, the "Notre Dame Victory March" was written just past the turn of the century by two brothers who were University of Notre Dame graduates.
Michael J. Shea, a 1905 graduate, wrote the music and his brother, John F. Shea, who earned degrees in 1906 and 1908, wrote the words. The song was copyrighted in 1908 and a piano verson, complete with lyrics, was published that year.
Michael, who became a priest in Ossining, N.Y., collaborated on the project with John, who lived in Holyoke, Mass. The song's public debut came in the winter of 1908 when Michael played it on the organ of the Second Congregational Church in Holyoke.
The "Notre Dame Victory March" later was presented by the Shea brothers to the University and it first appeared under the copyright of the University of Notre dame in 1928. The copyright was assigned to the publishing company of Edwin H. Morris and the copyright for the beginning of the song is still in effect.
The words and music which begin with the words "Cheer, cheer for Old Notre Dame" are in the public domain in the United States, but are protected in all territories outside of the country.
Notre Dame's fight song was first performed at Notre Dame on Easter Sunday, 1909, in the rotunda of the Administration Building. The University of Notre Dame band, under the direction of Prof. Clarence Peterson, played it as part of its athletic event 10 years later. In 1969, as college football celebrated its centennial, the "Notre Dame Victory March" was honored as the "greatest of all fight songs."
Michael Shea was the pastor of St. Augustine's Church in Ossining until his death in 1938. John Shea, a baseball monogram winner at Notre Dame, became a Massachusetts state senator and live in Holyoke until his death in 1965.
Lyrics:
Knute Rockne
Knute Rockne became head coach in 1918. Under Rockne the Irish would post a record of 105 wins, 12 losses, and 5 ties. During his 13 years the Irish won six national championships, had five undefeated seasons, won the Rose Bowl in 1925, and produced players such as the "Four Horsemen,". Knute Rockne has the highest win percentage (.881) in college football history.Among the events that occurred during Rockne's tenure none may be more famous than the Rockne's Win one for the Gipper speech. George "the Gipper" Gipp was a player on Rockne's earlier teams who died of strep throat in 1920. Army came into the 1928 matchup undefeated and was the clear favorite. Notre Dame, on the other hand, was having their worst season under Rockne's leadership and entered the game with a 4–2 record. At the end of the half Army was leading and looked to be in command of the game. Rockne entered the locker room and gave his account of Gipp's final words: "I've got to go, Rock. It's all right. I'm not afraid. Some time, Rock, when the team is up against it, when things are going wrong and the breaks are beating the boys, tell them to go in there with all they've got and win just one for the Gipper. I don't know where I'll be then, Rock. But I'll know about it, and I'll be happy." The speech, although possibly fictional, inspired the team and they went on to upset Army and win the game 12–6.
The last game Rockne coached was on December 14, 1930 when he led a group of Notre Dame All Stars against the New York Giants in New York City. The game[35] raised funds for the Mayor's Relief Committee for the Unemployed and Needy of the city. Fifty-thousand fans turned out to see the reunited "Four Horsemen" along with players from Rockne's other championship teams take the field against the pros.[36]
Rockne died in the plane crash of TWA Flight 599 in Kansas on March 31, 1931, while on his way to help in the production of the film The Spirit of Notre Dame. The crash site, located in a remote expanse of Kansas known as the Flint Hills, now features a Rockne Memorial.[37] Knute Rockne is considered to be one of the best football coaches in the history of football, professional or college level.
Rockne was the subject of the 1940 film Knute Rockne, All American.
Due to its long and storied history, Notre Dame football boasts many traditions unique to Notre Dame. Some of these are:
Prior to each game, Notre Dame students paint all football helmets gold, using paint containing real gold dust.[28]
Prior to the start of the game, the team attends mass in formal attire at the Sacred Heart Basilica. At the conclusion of mass, fans form a line from the chapel to the stadium, which the team walks through.[75]
Coming out of the locker room, players slap the famous "Play Like a Champion Today" sign.
Between the third and fourth quarters of home games, the Notre Dame Marching Band plays the finale to the 1812 Overture, as the crowd reacts with synchronized waving of arms, with their fingers in the shape of a letter designating the name of the head coach
Since 1961, Sergeant Tim McCarthy for the Indiana State Police has read out a driving safety announcement to the crowd during the fourth quarter. When Sergeant McCarthy begins his announcement, the crowd goes silent to hear his message, which invariably ends with a pun.[76]
At the conclusion of every home game, the team turns to the student section to salute them by raising their helmets in the air. They do this after a win or after a loss.[75]
At the conclusion of every home game, the band plays the Alma Mater, "Notre Dame, Our Mother". Those who stay link arms and sing the lyrics.Play "The Rakes of Mallow"
Some Notre Dame Photos............................
Notre Dame Stadium
Touchdown Jesus
#1 Moses
The Golden Dome
A Gorgeous Campus
Another Dome view
UND in winter
Black and White Winter shot
Knute
Knute again
Rockne teaches
Rockne the Fashion Plate
Ronald Reagan as George Gipp
Babe Ruth - A Goldeb Domer?
Johnny Lujack
Angelo Bertelli
Leprechauns
Leprechaun again
Frank Leahy
Lou Holtz leads 'em out
Play like a Champion Today
1973 Sugar Bowl Play that broke my heart
Bigger picture of play
Coaches Bryant and Parseghian before the game
The Band of The Fighting Irish
Band and Leprechaun
Irish Cheerleaders
Blonde Cheerleader
Sweet Smile
Final Cheerleader for this countdown
So, The Irish hold on, with a lot of skill and a little luck. Had the 1966 or 1977 votes gone for Alabama, like at least one probably should have, The Tide would be high. If USC or Oklahoma managed another National Championship in the last decade, they would be higher, and maybe at the top.
With the Irish reeling, and the three Programs behind them resurgent, it may be just a matter of time before Notre Dame is not just reeling, but reeled in.
But, for another year, I must say......................................
SHAKE DOWN THE THUNDER AND WAKE UP THE ECHOES!!!!
TidesofWar
Footballguy
So, that is it for this year.
I feel like an Irish Coffee, or an Alabama Slammer, or something - a Cold Bud Light will do for now
Cheers!
I feel like an Irish Coffee, or an Alabama Slammer, or something - a Cold Bud Light will do for now
Cheers!
TidesofWar
Footballguy
For those that took the time to read and even participate, you have my thanks.
There is so much to consider, and you can sort these things out different ways, but I have tried to be as fair and objective as possible.
Some interesting things you may have missed..........................
If you like Cheerleaders, thank Minnesota - they started the concept
If you curse "The Wave", curse Washington - they started the concept
Alabama is noted for having a Coach nicknamed "Bear" - but few know Alabama's first National Championship Coach, Wallace Wade was called "Bear" before Coach Bryant got out of Arkansas.
The most amazing thing to me - Penn State has had only TWO Coaches since 1950, Rip Engle and Joe Paterno.
In this age of Political Correctness, it is worth noting The Seminole Tribe approves of FSU using them a Mascot and nickname.
Oklahoma's first mascot was a Boston Terrier named Mex
Michigans Vaunted Helmets were actually copied from Princeton, and brought over by Fritz Chrisler
Jack Nicklaus once dotted the "i" as a Buckeye Alum
And many more.
Time for a vacation
There is so much to consider, and you can sort these things out different ways, but I have tried to be as fair and objective as possible.
Some interesting things you may have missed..........................
If you like Cheerleaders, thank Minnesota - they started the concept
If you curse "The Wave", curse Washington - they started the concept
Alabama is noted for having a Coach nicknamed "Bear" - but few know Alabama's first National Championship Coach, Wallace Wade was called "Bear" before Coach Bryant got out of Arkansas.
The most amazing thing to me - Penn State has had only TWO Coaches since 1950, Rip Engle and Joe Paterno.
In this age of Political Correctness, it is worth noting The Seminole Tribe approves of FSU using them a Mascot and nickname.
Oklahoma's first mascot was a Boston Terrier named Mex
Michigans Vaunted Helmets were actually copied from Princeton, and brought over by Fritz Chrisler
Jack Nicklaus once dotted the "i" as a Buckeye Alum
And many more.
Time for a vacation
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Ramblin Wreck
Footballguy
Nice job and good summer reading and discussion.
Mr. Know-It-All
Footballguy
Very nice work. I hate to admit Notre Dame is #1, but they clearly are. I was a little critical of the ordering of 2-7, but really when you are in that rarified air, does it really matter...especially to me, a fan of a team that wouldn't crack the top 40? Great read, and I appreciate the effort it must have taken.
gump
Footballguy
Well done TOW...
My favorite pics:
My favorite pics:
My favorite quote you listed:TidesofWar said:
Although didn't see my favorite:""If anything goes bad, I did it. If anything goes semi-good, we did it. If anything goes really good, then you did it. That's all it takes to get people to win football games for you."TidesofWar said:
The Commish
Footballguy
I am not the one doing the rankings here. Depsite that fact, I gave you my classification many posts ago. You still haven't. There is nothing in this post that tells me when one era begins and another ends for you. I'd expect that as the fluidity is necessary to justify your picks since you weight "championships" so heavily.I admit....this was a fantastic fishing trip and I wasTidesofWar said:
#1 here 
ETA: I am not sure what all that "you" talk was in that post, but I didn't play at Michigan....my apologies if I gave you that impression.
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timschochet
Footballguy
I have no ties to the Michigan program (I'm a UCLA fan) but I think they belong in the #1 slot. Notre Dame's been mediocre for the last 20 years, and I think this ought to be considered as a factor. Alabama was a racist program for most of it's existence, and deserves no respect for it's program before around 1970, and it's been pretty mediocre since then. Frankly, they wouldn't make my top 10.
1. Michigan
2. USC
3. Ohio State
4. Notre Dame
5. Oklahoma
6. Nebraska
After these 6, it really drops off.
1. Michigan
2. USC
3. Ohio State
4. Notre Dame
5. Oklahoma
6. Nebraska
After these 6, it really drops off.
bentley
Footballguy
It's a good thing that nobody asks you about your opinion on college football. Terrible reasoning and an even worse list.
The Commish
Footballguy
It's interesting that ND is #1 with 7 losing seasons in the last 30 years alone. That's over 20% of their seasons. Makes me now wonder what the term "winning" means to tow as well.ETA: I'd probably have them #3, behind Oklahoma and USC. All three have fallen off the "championship map at some point. Michigan's currently off, but they all keep winning games and conference championships. USC has been absolutely DOMINATE in bowl games.
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gump
Footballguy
How many schools have done this since 1970:- won 4 MNC- won 12 conference championships- won 10 games or more 19 times- finished in the top 10 in either poll 19 timesIt was mediocre...for Alabama.
The Commish
Footballguy
Of the credible criteria above, UM has 18 years with 10+ and 9 years with outright championships....co-champions another 11 times....yes, the B10 does "co champions" for some reason
Neither of these are impressive according to the "winning over time" since both UA and UM racked up a good amount of their 10 win seasons in the decade of the 70s. Not sure what any of this has to do with Tim's post though. Nor do I understand the "racist" factor he's introduced.ETA: And IN before the "look at the UM fan not liking the championships as a factor" shtick....it's well known here that I have no use for championship labels and never have.
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timschochet
Footballguy
For me, the number of national championships and conference championships is less important than whether or not a team is relevant during any given year. I regard relevance as being in the national championship and conference championship discussion towards the end of the season.
In this regard, with the sole exception of last year, Michigan has been relevant every year that I can remember. If you add that to their record of championships in the first half of the 20th century, they are the clear cut #1. No other team is even close to being this consistently relevant.
Alabama has had long recent stretches of irrelevancy, and Notre Dame even more so. The most relevant teams of the last 30 years have been USC, Miami, Florida State, Florida, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Michigan, Ohio State, and Tennessee. But the Florida schools don't have the long term consistency to be high on this list, and neither do the Vols.
In this regard, with the sole exception of last year, Michigan has been relevant every year that I can remember. If you add that to their record of championships in the first half of the 20th century, they are the clear cut #1. No other team is even close to being this consistently relevant.
Alabama has had long recent stretches of irrelevancy, and Notre Dame even more so. The most relevant teams of the last 30 years have been USC, Miami, Florida State, Florida, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Michigan, Ohio State, and Tennessee. But the Florida schools don't have the long term consistency to be high on this list, and neither do the Vols.
bentley
Footballguy
Hi Tim. USC is 14th in wins over the last 30 years behind Texas, BYU and Georgia along with all the other teams you mentioned.
gump
Footballguy
It's been a tumultuous last 20 years...no doubt...due to 2 probations. Still...every coach they've had since 1970...including many guys who couldn't succeed after leaving in Ray Perkins, Bill Curry, and Dennis Franchione...not to mention Mike Freakin Shula...have finished with 10 wins and in the Top 10. In fact, the only time Alabama has gone more than 3 years without finishing in the top 10 (and competing for a Conf Champ) was the final 3 years of Bryant's tenure.The program has shown that no matter what the obstacles, it will bounce back...quickly.
timschochet
Footballguy
I certainly think Texas deserves to be in the discussion. BYU doesn't play comparable teams on a regular basis. But I'm very surprised and impressed that Georgia would have a better record than USC, especially given where they play.
I think you have Pete Carroll goggles on. Prior to him arriving, USC hadn't been a national power since the 70s. Hell, they had a 13 year losing streak against ND and an eight year losing streak against UCLA during that time period.
timschochet
Footballguy
Believe me, I loved beating USC eight years in a row. I attended every one of those games (UCLA/USC). But every one of the coaches between John Robinson and Pete Carroll had success and managed the Trojans to the Rose Bowl. It's true that they did not, at the end of most years, contend for the National Championship, but they were always a prominent team with all sorts of star players. They were relevant. Much more relevant, I would argue, than the stretch for Oklahoma between between Switzer and Stoops.
bentley
Footballguy
Between 1981 and 2001 (21 years) they finished the season unranked more often than they were ranked. And that's giving them credit for a year when they were #25 in one poll and unranked in the other. Give it up. For comparison's sake, I looked at Texas. I'd argue that the 80s and 90s were among the darkest periods in the program's history and they still finished in the top 25 more times than USC did during that period.
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Absolutely mind-boggling.
timschochet
Footballguy
You know what? I'm not going to argue with you guys. Life is too short for me to defend a team I despise as much as USC. I surrender; you win.
bentley
Footballguy
See how easy that was?
Steve Tasker
Footballguy
at Bama not in the top 6...This from the guy who wants to argue the existence of god every other week?Weak
TidesofWar
Footballguy
Programs are not Racist, people are.I bet even some people in your beloved LaLa Land.You have posted somethings I would like to respond to - but I am off to play a round of Golf, so addressing those things will have to wait till later this afternoon.The next thing I am addressing is the Golf Ball, in the #1 Tee Box.
timschochet
Footballguy
Alabama was a racist program by definition, because it did not allow Black players. To Bear Bryant's credit, he was opposed to this, but overruled by the administration. It wasn't until the Tide got whipped by USC and Sam Cunningham that they changed their rules, and that was in 1970, well past the height of the Civil Rights movement. During the years prior to this, I think it's fair to regard Alabama as a great regional team, certainly the best team in the SEC, but a team that was consistently inferior to the best integrated teams of the time, such as Notre Dame, Michigan State, USC etc.
timschochet
Footballguy
I guess they might sneak into #7, but I would also have to consider Texas, Florida, Miami, Florida State, Penn State, Michigan State. Not at all sure.
gump
Footballguy
"That boys good.""Yea...good and terrible."I guess they might sneak into #7, but I would also have to consider Texas, Florida, Miami, Florida State, Penn State, Michigan State. Not at all sure.
ConstruxBoy
Kate's Daddy
Appreciate the effort here even if I don't agree. I'm more of a ranking guy though, than just a general idea guy, when it comes to explaining my methods. So I'd love to find time to put all the things we would consider in something like this, such as wins, MNCs, tradition, All-Americans, NFL Players, defined success in different eras, etc, into a spreadsheet, weigh the categories and then rank the programs. That may lead to the same result as here, but I'd feel better about reading it.
