1988 Catholics vs. Convicts -- Notre Dame 31 Miami 30
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 8 ก.พ. 2025
- October 15, 1988: Top ranked Miami was a 4 point favorite over fourth ranked Notre Dame in South Bend. The over/under was 41.5.
The famous Cleveland Gary play is at 2:38:15. The officiating crew unbelievably botched the call, somehow believing it was 4th and goal. To this day conventional wisdom and countless summaries of the game call it a fumble. It was not ruled a fumble. The referees incorrectly awarded the ball to Notre Dame on downs. Initially one member of the officiating crew admitted the gaffe. Then the entire group clammed up once it became obvious that if they merely shut up they could avoid scrutiny and embarrassment while the college football world conveniently described it as a fumble.
Google the phrase, "Ref: UM fumble call was wrong" to see the related article in the Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel from three days after the game, including many devastating quotes from that unnamed member of the officiating crew.
I've been a devout Notre Dame fan through eight different decades and I'm blessed to have seen countless incredible moments in person at Notre Dame Stadium. I could watch a thousand years of Notre Dame football and no game could ever mean as much to me as this one. Lou was right in saying it was the Notre Dame spirit that was the difference, because only in that atmosphere at Notre Dame Stadium would that incredible Miami team turn the ball over seven times, which contributed greatly to ND winning by a single point. It was an incredible game played by two fantastic teams and it will always be my favorite college football memory.
I agree Tom.... the greatest college game I’ve ever seen. I’m glad I watched it being neutral. I couldn’t imagine being a fan of one of these schools
Respect to your comment. I am a Miami alum and attended the rematch game, in the Orange Bowl, at night, the following year (November 1989). It was my senior year as an undergraduate student. That "payback" game -- which far and away was the loudest the Orange Bowl had ever been, and broke all OB attendance records at 80,000+ fans, and you can include all college and NFL games played there, including four Super Bowls -- wouldn't have had much meaning had this 1988 game not been the epic that it was.
T ml mo
College sucks. Nobody is allowed into notre dame and miami. You have to be a rich Cuban to live in miami. The nfl is the best.
Well put sir here’s hoping that you enjoy many more years to watch Notre Dame football.
It’s great that all these years later CBS still has the same exact theme music - the best of all sports. It’s awesome.
Back when this was so awesome One of my great memories of college football even though I'm in Nebraska fan and I hated Miami lol but these games were awesome and I'm also a devout Christian they would never let him have a title now called Christians versus convicts which is what a Catholic is a Christian cuz I'm Catholic we're Christians Christians versus convicts in Miami loved being called the convicts because they like to be in the bad guys now they would say you're calling black guys criminals lol they would never let him say that even though none of these black guys were offended we just lived in a different world then cuz we knew we weren't actually calling them criminals it was just their image and they loved it like Michael Irvin said we love that but now they would call you a bigot for saying that The world is just screwed up I want this world back right here when this game was played the way the world was
I totally agree. I've got that theme song in one of my music playlist here on youtube.
I love watching these old football games with the commercials.
I was a senior at Notre Dame when this game was played. I still remember that day very well. Incredible atmosphere and the best college football game I’ve ever seen. Still remember the feeling when they missed the two point conversion and storming the field. It was awesome!
That's awesome!
Cane fan. It was the absolute peak of college football. That day.
@@Gaviota84 It was a heck of a game by both teams and the stakes couldn’t have been higher. I still view it as the best college football game ever but I also admit that I’m pretty biased.
I grew up in South Bend and have been a die hard Irish fan my whole life. I was 20 years old when this game was played and will never forget the excitement before, during and after this game. I had one of those famous t-shirts that I treasured but sadly lost track of it decades ago.
I had the shirt too. Was on Campus two weeks before this game and a guy walked up w a box of em. I remember they were all the same size, XL, and the guy wasn’t trying to hang around. It was done quickly. Hell, it may of been one of the guys on the 30 for 30? Who knows? I think the shirt was $10 bucks. I wish I still had it
Notre dame wouldn't let you in. You didn't even try for the stadium janitor like Rudy did. Are you making minimum wage?
I shudder to think what this rivalry would be like with social media today. The NCAA would probably call out the National Guard.
@Mitchell Movie Productions No he's right
Liberals vs Trump supporters
LOL GOOD ONE
@@thefrase7884 you spelled terrorist wrong.
@@shshskateproductions2250 u r right, Terrorist vs Trump Supporters. .... or Taliban Supporters vs Trump Supporters- thats more like it.
I listened to this game on the radio for the entire 1st half. Unfortunately I was working that day. I was rooting for my precious 'Canes. Unfortunately work forced me to not listen to the remainder of the game. I couldn't wait to watch the ESPN highlights as I turned off my radio and refused to listen to any updates. I was giddy when UM scored a TD late in the game. And then when they showed the highlights of UM failing the 2 point conversion, I was crushed. I knew that the winner of that game would represent one half of the National Championship game. Although, it was a tough defeat for the UM nation, the game I'm certain was fantastic. And I gave major props to Notre Dame. I'm amazed from ND's storied history, ND fans and media consider this game their greatest victory. It's 2021 and I still have not watched this entire game to date. I'm going to start watching this game from it's beginning. It's amazing how significant this game was for college football.
I remember watching it on TV since I was a freshman at Penn State that year and I was rooting for Miami because I hated Notre Dame so much because they played us every year back then and their fans were so arrogant that year --- but overall it was a super-hyped game that actually lived up to the hype and it really put college football on the map and I think this game was the true national championship of 1988
@@fredwerza3478 As I mentioned, it was tough watching Notre Dame eventually win it all as a "U" fan. But other than the iconic game against the 'Canes at South Bend, Notre Dame's win over USC cemented Notre Dame's legacy too that year. I don't think fans remembered how hyped up the Notre Dame vs USC game was also. USC the week before beat a very highly ranked and previously undefeated UCLA team. I still have a photo in my man cave of that iconic Lou Holtz SI photo of him in the center of his team's huddle at the Colosseum in LA. The title of the SI photo said: "Go Get 'Em Men." Not a Notre Dame fan, but that photo looked so iconic to me. I had to frame it with my other 'Canes and other college football memorabilia I enjoy collecting as a sports fan.
In a way, as a Canes fan, it doesn't bother me too much that Miami lost this game. Because it set the stage for the 27-10 victory against ND in the Orange Bowl (all-time OB attendance record at over 80,000), which many consider to be the greatest game in Miami program history, if not tied with the first national championship game against Nebraska.
The way Rice scored that first touchdown without a hand on him (on the staunch defense of Miami) sent a clear message the Irish were on a mission. This was one of the greatest college football games of all time.
There are no games today that come close to the Miami/Notre Dame and Miami/FSU games back in the 80's.
I was at the game. THE most intense nonstop excitement and passion I've ever experienced at a sporting event, and I've gone to a LOT of big time Notre Dame games since 1978! (as well as iconic World Series games, NFL games, and epic college bball reg season and numerous NCAA Tourney games).
And to the Miami Conv...er Hurricane fans:
1. Yes, Cleveland Gary lost control of the football before he was down, so it was a FUMBLE.
2. MIAMI was GIFTED their last TD. That WR NEVER CAUGHT THE BALL. IT HIT THE GROUND AND IT WASN'T EVEN IN HIS POSS WHEN HE HIT THE GROUND. OBVIOUS WRONG "MAKEUP" CALL.
It was the biggest cfb game in 40 years at least.
Don’t forget the obvious strip sack on Walsh in the 1st quarter that was ruled incomplete and on Miamis first TD, the receiver was clearly down before he got in.
@doeupiqojei
Yep, I remember the strip sack, but I'll have to go back and watch the 1st TD again. I just love rewatching the ESPN Catholics vs Convicts special on that epic game. Dan Lebatard is still pizzed to this day about that game.
I'm a UGA fan, but man I pulled hard for ND this game and was so proud of the intensity and mental toughness the Irish showed.
You weren't a uga fan in 88 because they were down. You are one today. Did you finish h.s.?
@@nicksmart7094 when did he say he wasn't a UGA fan in 1988? Do you know how to read?
Kudos to you for the support. It was awesome to be in the stadium thar day, the intensity for over 3 hours was incredible.
But, I'm still peeved about the 1980 season Sugar Bowl, my junior year! Man, did we give that game away...
Barry Alvarez would go on to be Wisconsin head coach and athletic director. He was ND defensive coordinator in 1988.
I was 49.5 years old when I learned this. Much respect!
He should of got the job after Holtz left.
God I miss those days. I had a friend whose father had pull in South Bend. His dad would get us tickets to ND games. Being an IU ‘paid in full’ Alumni I had access to b-ball tics. I had no clue how lucky I was in the late 80s to see both teams in their prime. Living in Indiana back then it was assumed that IU would be a Final Four BBall contender and ND would be in the hunt for a NCAA football championship.
Was flying from NYC to Atlanta that afternoon. Pilot came over the intercom - "if anyone is interested, Notre Dame 31, Miami 30. Great Memory.
BTW - same day (night) Gibson's HR off Eckersley game one, 88 WS.
Yes! It's a great trivia question I've often asked people: What two major events in American sports history occurred on October 15, 1988?
That last Miami "touchdown" would have been an incomplete pass by today's catch rules.
They re updated the rule so now it stands again today in '22
But today's rules aren't relevant to 34 years ago.
He didn't catch it. Plain and simple. Ref missed it.
Blessing himself before the kickoff was intense
I grew up in Mishawaka right by South Bend. The goodyear blimp would fly right over our house on big game Saturdays. My parents had season tickets so I got to go to to a lot of games, but this was the best one by far,
I cant imagine what the outcome would have been today with replay. Catches not catches, fumbles ruled a forward pass, touchdowns when the dude was down at the 2 yard line. Crazy.
Totally true. But as Jimmy Johnson would tell his players, don't let the refs ever decide the game. That is, win every game in dominating fashion, so that all those blown calls by the refs don't come back to haunt you. Miami let the refs decide this game.
Miami had 7 turnovers and lost by one point. That's crazy.
ND made alot of mistakes too. The Irish shoulda won this game by 2 scores.
ND had something to do with those 7 turnovers. That’s amazing.
Double crazy. Crazy they would make that many turnovers, albeit against an outstanding coached ND team, and crazy that they only lost by 1 considering.
@@swedejohanson7739 HAHAH THATS FUNNY
Crazy. FSU missed how many FGs right to let them off the hook.
Back when beating #1 in the regular season actually meant something.
So true! Regular season games meant much more back then!
Huh? There’s a playoff now? Regular season games actually might mean more in this modern era so I’m not quite sure where this is going.
@@creedyfbaby it was just incredible in that day all the powerhouses played each other 80s-90s great time for college football
@@creedyfbaby The playoffs system has ruined it in a way because the top tier teams know they can lose 1, maybe 2 games and still have a shot to get in because the pollsters are bias
The playoff system in college football has always been a mess. You need a 16 team playoff to be legit.
I'm a huge ND fan growing up in Youngstown Ohio. I live on the west coast now for 30 years. I've been to rose bowls Fiesta bowls. National championship games playoffs. And when I lived in Ohio been to all the big games. Notre dame games Michigan games, been to Ohio st , Penn st. I was a 23 year old kid when this game was played, was the happiest I ever was as a ND fan. The greatest win in history. I'm still pissed I didn't get in my car and drive 7 hours to South Bend and go to this game probably would have to pay $600.00 in 1988 to get into this game it would have been well worth it.
As a devout Catholic & lifelong Notre Dame fan I was displeased with the Catholic vs Convicts even if it was catchy. It gave off a sense of superiority or judgemental.
That said I HATED Miami & still love to watch this game!
I agree completely that Cleveland Gary did not fumble down at the Notre Dame goal line at the 2:38:17 mark. Bad call by the officials. With instant replay nowadays, that call would have been overturned and Miami would have had a first and goal at the ND goal line. However with at being said, the fact of the matter is that Miami did commit 7 turnovers in this game(4 fumbles/3 interceptions). I don't care who you are or who you play, you will most likely loose if you commit that many turnovers in a single game; especially on the road. The Hurricanes only have themselves to blame for this loss. Most of these turnovers occurred inside Notre Dame territory when the Hurricanes were driving the ball. If Miami doesn't turn the ball over in this game they most likely win in a blowout.
That's right. When I was a college kid at Miami (watching this game live on TV), you fume and say, "we would have won if the refs didn't blow the call". And then the kid becomes old and wise, and you think what Jimmy Johnson used to say: "never ever let the referees decide a game." Meaning, score enough points that a blown call proves not to be decisive. You're right, 7 (or 6) turnovers is sloppy, sloppy, sloppy.
Only if your a hurricanes fan would u say it was a bad call
I know this is unpopular, but for the very reason that you said, Miami committed seven turnovers, Miami should have played for the tie. When you are on the road, and you've played the worst game of the season, and still have a chance to get out of there still alive, then take the tie. Notre Dame and Miami would have rematched in the Fiesta, or Miami would have played West Virginia, and Miami would have won either of those matchups and been 1988 National Champions. The one-point loss eliminated Miami from the National Championship.
It was not a fumble typical homer refs for ND.
@@chrismatava8128 I'm a Florida State fan since 1988.
that was a bad call touchdown or he was down !
God I miss these days
This may have been the best football game of the 1980's. Perhaps Miami-Nebraska from the 1983 season would have a word, but this one was electric.
As a Georgia fan this was and still is the best non Georgia game I have ever seen. Glad the Catholics won
I'd say the greatest games were the 2013 iron bowl and 1997&2006 Rose Bowls
You a bandwagonner. Miami was your team in 88. What's the highest grade you completed?
What a fucking atmosphere my goodness.
It was crazy that day. But not as crazy as the rematch the following year in the Orange Bowl, at night. "Absolute pandemonium" would be an understatement.
The uniforms didn't have any company logo like Nike, New Era etc. Even Holtz's pullover and hat had no logo other than ND. It is too bad these companies had to ruin the gear with their logo. MLB caps are ruined by the New Ere logo. All hats have a company logo on them now. If I buy a team hat or shirt, I only want the team's name or logo on it.
I completely agree. Those hideous company logos tarnished every uniform they appeared on.
I miss the era of Russell Athletic and Champion Uniforms. Notre Dame and Miami's looks in this game are iconic.
CBS still has that same theme song today.
Since Super Bowl 21, January 25, 1987
The first major college matchup to use it was Miami Florida St 1987
Still the best sports anthem
Fox has used the same theme for the NFL since they got nfl in 94
Bizarre to see WRs in a 3-point stance. I wonder what the reasoning was for that. By 1990 they were going from the modern 2-point stance.
I was not alive for this game, but I once ran into someone at a Baldwin Wallace (the college I attend) volleyball tailgate who was an ND student that year. He remembered that every student was at the game and that he had no voice the next day from all the yelling. He called it one of the most memorable Irish games he ever attended, and he and his college friends still call Jimmy Johnson “Satan”
This is what started it for me. This is the game that made me a Notre Dame fan
I am and still am Canes to this day. I remember how sad I was they lost BUT loved going for 2. Love the decision no matter what the outcome was. 89 seemed so anti climatic after this game. I knew they were going to beat Notre Dame next year but for me this is the best game as far as dislike and intensity that I have ever seen...
It was a game for the ages --- the whole "Catholics vs. Convicts" thing was stupid but the game lived up to the hype!
Miami would have rejected your application.
@@nicksmart7094 On what basis would Miami have rejected his application?? Do tell us, Mr. Smart.
@@nicksmart7094 Why be a dick.
one of all time great games in any sport. Miami was the best team in college football that year, but had a heap of turnovers in this game and could've tied it at 31. the following year Notre Dame was the best team in college football. they whupped Colorado in the Orange Bowl, but lost to the Hurricanes in the regular season, so Miami was voted national champs.
Miami was the best team both years. Get real.
Absolutely not, 88 Notre Dame would of beat them anywhere or anytime. They beat the # 1,2,3 teams that year, Miami didn’t. This team had talent, speed defense etc, Miami couldn’t run on them at all
Miami won NC in 87 and 89 and only lost this game in 88 away by one point. I hated the Canes in the 80s but they were the team of that whole decade.
@@ThankGodImBlack370 Yeah Miami turned it over 7 times. I think it's a more interesting story Notre Dame won in 88...but Miami was the dominant team that decade.
Best players on Notre Dame's 1988 defense: Frank Stams, Chris Zorich, Ned Bolcar, Mike Stonebreaker, Todd Lyght & Pat Terrell
Lou Holtz post-game interview: "This was won by the Notre Dame spirit...Shut up!!!" That always makes me laugh.
I thought he yelled “Salute!”
Holtz was absolutely right. Real Domers know what the Notre Dame spirit is. It's in our bone marrow and we cherish it. It's the reason why a little itty-bitty Catholic school in Northeast Indiana became what it is spiritually, academically and in football. If you feel it, you can't explain it. If you don't, it can't be explained to you. Hate that all you want, but that's the way it is.
100 percent correct!
Well said. I live in Canada. I've never set foot on Notre Dame's campus. I've only been to Indiana once in my life, but I completely understand the "spirit of Notre Dame."@@tomsurber2293
3:02:10
The best play in the entire game might be Anthony Johnson's recovery of the onside kick. Not an easy play to make. 2:59:20
The two most gripping sports events I've witnessed in my 60 years: Game #6 of the 1975 World Series and this absolute classic college football game.
Game 7 of the 1984 NBA finals belongs in that conversation.
Those were the days of great rivalries and good hard nosed tough football. I miss those days.
What a shame this rivalry ended.Notre Dame should play Michigan and Miami every year.
And USC
@@MikeJones-cs8gi yes sir!! They is one I forgot about
3:02:08 Lou Holtz yells "SHUT UP!" and receives instant silence. I was never a fan of any of his teams but I certainly respect him.
If Miami went for the tie instead of the outright win they would have remained #1 and go on to win the National championship. As an Irish fan I’m glad they didn’t but I never could figure that one out
I'm still perplexed about it as well but college football didnt have overtime until 1996 so I think a lot of coaches hated ties back then and usually went for 2 points to avoid the tie, even if it meant losing the game --- I kinda miss that balls out attitude and I wish we saw it more often
Jimmy Johnson still pissed about the Cleveland Gary fumble.
Funny how he never mentions that UM's last TD should not have counted as the ball bounced off the ground & should've been an incomplete pass.
Tom Osbourne gifted Mimi their first title doing the same thing. Huge mistake
@@johnl5350 Osborn didn't gift anything. It would have been a puszy move if Osborn won the title by kicking an extra-point to tie the game.
@@cgh7337 That has always baffled me. He just didn't catch the pass. He didn't. The ball deflected so far away that the ref just didn't see it, I guess. But that was no TD.
2:00:11 Nobody talks about the fake punt call...basically telling Notre Dame that Miami had to gamble to stay in the game. Then Notre Dame hits Watters to the 4 yard line on the next play, Eilers scores the play after that. Crowd back in it, Notre Dame keeps the lead the rest of the game. Not a good call, folks.
Miami had their chances.Just like the loss to Ohio State in 2003 Fiesta Bowl
I’ve from Chicago (Nobody) watched football besides Notre Dame I’m still a fan I remember this game I believe Rice is still the best quarterback we’ve had he was a winner
I remember watching this game. The replays were clear that Gary stretched across the goal line with the ball and touched the ground. The ground cannot cause a fumble. Whether his knee was down before the ball broke the plane is hard to tell, but even if it was he had enough yards for the 1st down. Major error on the part of the officials. Great game though. The championship should have been a rematch between Miami and Notre Dame. West Virginia may have been 12-0, but they were no where near the level of Miami and Notre Dame. Kinda like BYU going 12-0... sorry weak opponents. Miami played 6 top 15 teams that year.
Good stuff huge cane fan here
I agree completely that Cleveland Gary did not fumble down at the Notre Dame goal line at the 2:38:17 mark. Bad call by the officials. With instant replay nowadays, that call would have been overturned and Miami would have had a first and goal at the ND goal line. However with at being said, the fact of the matter is that Miami did commit 7 turnovers in this game(4 fumbles/3 interceptions). I don't care who you are or who you play, you will most likely loose if you commit that many turnovers in a single game; especially on the road. The Hurricanes only have themselves to blame for this loss. Most of these turnovers occurred inside Notre Dame territory when the Hurricanes were driving the ball. If Miami doesn't turn the ball over in this game they most likely win in a blowout.
@@danielnowak64692:00:11 Maybe just as bad a call...if you're the better team you shouldn't put the game in the hands of a fake punt right there...
The only reason BYU won the national championship in '84 was the fact they were 12-0, ranked #1 and then won their bowl game over a 7-4 Michigan team the day after Christmas! They were de facto #1 before the New Year's Bowl Games! Cougars only had two quality wins (Pittsburgh and Air Force) all year before they beat Michigan, but none of that mattered! I remember them winning it vividly (was in seventh grade at the time)! Regardless of the fact most still hate that they won it all - it was the era of the polls and they were in no way gonna drop after winning the Holiday Bowl! Michigan was not their usual, but they're brand is why BYU didn't fall despite a close call (24-17)
@@bradlewis6514 Are you sure you're posting this comment to the proper video?
One of the best college football games ever! I did not like the "Catholics vs Convicts" term, but it was a physical and well played game!
I'm a UM alum, attended during the height of the Program in the late 1980s. Every opposing team in the late 80s and early 90s was referring to the U and its players as "convicts." It made my blood boil. Quite a racist reference, too.
@@zoso73 Exactly! Thats why I hated the term. They dont talk about those guys who graduated and did well. When i played football in highschool we were stereotyped and we had good grades!
Maybe if those Miami players didn't act like a bunch of a--*****, people wouldn't have called them that. Had nothing to do with race. Had everything to do with class. Or lack thereof.
@@zoso73 How is it racist. Miami's white kids were thuggish as well! Notre Dames Black kids were hard working and disciplined. The 87 Fiesta Bowl was a perfect example. Miami took Penn state for granted and payed for it! Even Ricky Watters stayed out of trouble at Notre Dame!
Perfect description of the Miami thugs.
If you didn't know the outcome of this game you can thank the uploader for including the score in his header. Hard to call it a spoiler but for some it is. Uploader did a good job with the Catholics vs Convicts title but should have left the score out. Thanks anyway for the upload.
A reporter dug a little deeper on the "Catholics versus Convicts" game. It turns out that Miami had more Catholics on their squad than Notre Dame. Apparently, Notre Dame football recruited heavily from the Bible Belt, thus a high proportion of Baptists. Just as interesting, the Notre Dame squad logged more arrests that year than Miami.
Only because Miami was better at concealing their nefarious activities.
@@MaximusWolfe Do you have evidence, or this how you feel?
@@thejdgoodwin
Was only joking man.
ND did not have more arrests
@@kevintuohy6402
Yeah, I found that statement quite dubious. I guess this guy is hoping no one will actually do a check on that. I doubt very seriously that there were more arrests on the Notre Dame team.
First " Fumble" by Walsh was a forward pass called a fumble. The 2nd was called an incomplete pass but was a fumble lol
Where in the game did those plays occur? I’ve heard that one of them occurred on a Miami scoring drive but can’t seem to find it; very curious to see the play and if replay would have overturned the call on the field. They left that one out of the 30 for 30😅
1 of 2 losses still haunting Miami fans to this day
The other being the Fiesta bowl fiasco.
@@primarylenders1663 sad thing about Fiesta Bowl loss is Miami football declined after that and hasn't done much since.
@@nathaniellathy6559 He meant the 1986 Fiesta Bowl fiasco. I believe you meant the 2002 Fiesta Bowl fiasco. The two worst losses in UM program history, IMO, are the 1986 Fiesta Bowl fiasco (UM lost to a clearly inferior team in Penn State) and the regular season loss to Washington in the Orange Bowl that snapped The Streak (the 58-game home-game winning streak in the OB).
I'm a Michigan fan so it doesn't matter, but it's always hilarious when a person thinks they know the mindset of a whole fan base. All the Miami fans I know are proud of the teams they had.
@@nathaniellathy6559That's because all the teams in Florida snitch on them so Miami talent doesn't always go to Miami. Miami STAYS in sanctions so other Fla.teams can pick from the Miami talent pool.
I was 15yrs old at this game with my auntie & uncle
Jimmy should have gone for 1 On the road.
Still befuddles me why he didnt --- if he did, the Canes would've stayed #1 and likely became national champs
@@fredwerza3478 At the very least they would have been co national champs. Also Fred there could have been a rematch for all the marbles at the Fiesta Bowl. They would have been 1-2 in the polls. 🤔
@@bnegs521 well one thing that was probably running through Jimmy's head was that UCLA and USC were ranked #2 and #3 mid-season --- so he prolly thought if both those schools finished undefeated they would play for the national title, since Miami would have the tie and likely ranked #3
@@fredwerza3478 nah usc played notre dame that year and notre dame won easy. And ucla and usc were gonna play each other too. The shine was off ucla they weren't running the table and like I said usc played nd that year at usc usc was getting eliminated anyway.
Kickoff at 15:48
3 players from Miami (Bubba McDowell, Darryl Spencer, Hurlie Brown) and 1 player from Notre Dame (Derek Brown) all went to the same high school. Merritt Island High school… Home of the Mustangs! In 1986 they were the best team in the country. 11 players got D1 scholarships… Unbelievable
Lot of Chicago kids playing in this epic game. Miami always came up to Chicago in 80s to get kids, particularly linemen.
Too bad they didn't get students.
@@dfertefwergwergrfgwr suntan or study? Maybe I'll go to class tomorrow, lol😁
I know WV was in undefeated but there should have been a rematch for the National championship.
Major Harris!
In my eyes, this was the national championship game for 1988 --- WV had no business being in the mix
So, then ND should have gotten a rematch vs Miami in 1989, right? In fact, the Irish destroyed #1 undefeated Colorado in the Orange Bowl that year. Usually if you're #3 and you trounce #1 in the biggest bowl, you are named NC.
OMG that was not a fumble by Cleveland Gary at 2:38:17 . Horrible call by the Refs. Replay at 2:38:54
Actually it was a fumble
@@chrismatava8128 .....actually Chris I never thought it was but looking at it closely I have to agree that it was
What about Miami’s last touchdown? You know, the one that should have been ruled incomplete?
Looked like a fumble to me.
@@mgilland2129 Not even close to being a catch. Total gift of a TD to Miami.
New century.. still not a fumble. New century and ND still hasn't gotten another ring.
It was a fumble. The ball was coming out before he hit the ground.
@@MaximusWolfe 🤣 nein
@@kkadera
Nope
Man the refs were terrible in this game. A lot of bad calls that would have been over turned today. Especially at the end with Miami. The dude crossed the plain before the ball came out.
So what? The refs gifted Miami a td early on. That receiver was 2 yards shy of the goal line.
Greatest regular season college football game in history. GO CANES !!!
Swagger, 80s style
Catholics vs Convicts made me think this was a Catholic intersquad game.
miami had just won a national title a few years earlier when nebraska failed on their 2 point conversation - but something was wrong with that last 2 point play in this game. did a whistle blow? was it fall-start? walsh looked confused about why the play was still running
I'm glad games go into overtime these days. Back then the team trailing by a point was left with two bad options: kick the extra point and look like a coward, or feel compelled to go for 2 with low odds of completing the conversation.
Ask Tom Osborne about that after the 84 orange bowl
@@crgray1979 I was about to say the same thing. As a Sooner id rather have seen them win the 83 OB than Schnellenberger. Hell, it might have saved us a godawful season and some near deaths from an idiot not giving his players water in the Oklahoma heat. The drunk shouldve been arrested for what he did to those guys.
That pregame fracas in the endzone was the reason ND eventually created a separate visitor's locker room entrance
Canes were robbed !! I’m still not over the refs robbing Cleveland Gary of a TD and a miami championship!! The 1986 team overlooked Penn St at had 8 turnovers and still only lost 14-10. Miami should have won 4 straight championships.
Did you forget that Miami’s last TD was clearly incomplete?
I half agree. I don't think it was a TD or a Notre Dame recovery. It s/have been Miami's ball at the ND one yard line.
So miami turns the ball over 15 times in 2 games. You think that they should have won 2 more titles? Champion team dont play like that unless they are not ready mentally. Sooners always lost cause the wishbone pitches were off.
This is what college football is all about
Cleveland Gary did not fumble! The ball was over the goal line,which makes it a touchdown. I've been saying it for 34 years,for Christmas sakes.*
And Andre Brown clearly did NOT catch the last Miami TD pass. Funny how people ignore that.
@dashx1103 Now that, I admit is questionable! But they gave it to him. I've got a sports illustrated pic that confirmed it👍🏿
@@marioboyd4259 Yeah. And Sports Illustrated also confirmed that ND WON!
Gary lost control of the football before it crossed the goal line.
Refs gave this game to Notre Dame.
Not true at all. In fact the refs gifted that first Miami touchdown as the guy was 2 yards short of the goal line at a minimum. Stop making excuses.
Pffffffftttt. Watch Miami's gift TD on the last score. He never had possession of the ball.
commercials make you miss the 80s
A real back & forth battle. Between 2 talented teams. Miami was sloppy at times during this game.
A few hours later Kirk Gibson came off the bench and took Dennis Eckersley downtown and won Game 1 for the Dodgers
I didn't know Miami was a catholic school!!!!!!
ND football. Pound, pound, pound and then throw it. Also excellent defense that surprised Miami. But Rice was the big weapon. Then there is the genius of Coach Lou.
4 teams I cannot stand : Notre Dame "fighting Holtz'$, Jimmy J'$ Miami hurricanes, Penn State Nittany chumps and not the least USC Trojans.
Sorry Michigan fan. You guys ruled the 1890s!
instant replay would have altered this game on both sides......refs blew some calls
Pat Haden rocks great announcer
Catholics vs convicts, what a perfect description of the Miami thugs.
Buckwheat U.
Notre Dame has not won a national championship since this. Put back the grass turf!!!! Bring back the gold spray painted helmets. Straighten up, fly right.
They should have won in 93 stupid polls
1993
@@kbrewski1 they didn’t win the national championship in 93 but it was screwy because it was not they lost one game it was when they lost right after the FSU game which dropped them in the polls
48:50 mans having a great view ;)
Why on earth Norte Dame got rid of their grass is beyond me.
B/c Brian Kelly wanted sportsturf (or whatever that shit is called)
@@cgh7337 really? Just cuz he wanted it? That’ doesn’t seem right. Brian Kelly says I want sports turf and that overrides years of tradition and Notre dames heritage. I’m a Penn State fan and I long for those old school games between ND & PSU. Penn State still has grass. And wasn’t Norte Dames grass kept a little higher than most grass fields so the opposing team would have to adjust to the grass length. Also what’s with the horrible green they use now? What happened to that dark more prestigious looking green they had in their jerseys. Under Armour is making a mockery of Notre Dame apparel.
Why anyone uses that garbage is hard to fathom.
Even tho I'm a miami fan college football needed somebody to take out the bad guy this is still the most important game in college football history..
The U could never admit it: when they lost to PSU they "beat themselves", and when they lost to ND they "were victims to a bad call"
Game was nearly 32 years ago and Lou Holtz still sounded like a 90 year old stroke victim.
He's from eastern Ohio which is like Appalachia which is hillbilly country
thats how he sounds though since the day he was able to speak
Trivia: Holtz played Granny Clampett in "The Beverly Hillbillies."
Miami wants to bitch and complain about that so called fumble in the 4th quarter at the Notre Dame Goal Line that cost them a 1st and goal and most likely the game( Yes indeed it was a very bad call). However the Hurricanes had a total of 7 turnovers in this game( 4 fumbles and 3 interceptions). Most of them occurred inside Notre Dame territory. I don't care how talented or good you are; you will lose 99.9/100% of the time when you commit that many mistakes in a game; especially on the road no matter who you are up against. If Miami doesn't commit a single turnover in this game, they win this one rather easily.
With all those TO's on the road they still went for 2 and the win at the end of the game. Had won 36 Regular season games in a row- - That's Huge, 11 game seasons back then, thats almost 3 1/2 years without losing a game. And no playoffs back then, so it was harder to win an NC. All done by voters & U couldnt play the #2 team if they played in Big 10 or Pac 12 etc. Crazy rules. But yes 7 TO's and still had a chance to win on the road.
Also, Miami’s last touchdown should have been ruled an incomplete pass. It was a much worse call than the Cleveland Gary call. ND was the better team and deserved to win.
Canes should've won 3 straight nattys from 86 to 88. They came in cocky against a Pemn State team they should've destroyed and were hosed by the Cleveland Gary call in this
They were beyond cocky against Penn State! Their self-absorbance bordered on the absurd, along with those ridiculous camouflage getups! Alonzo Highsmith has said many times the '86 Canes were too worried about their egos and making history than playing the game that night against the Nittany Lions! They also underestimated Penn State's attitude on defense! The uniforms might be bland but their defense had a swagger, that because of the attention on Miami, was overlooked
But as u also know all too well John, shoulda's don't win national championships!
I went to Penn State and I believe it was Miami's cockiness that lost them the championship in '86 --- PSU had a great defense but the Canes had a superb offense that should've scored more than 10 points against us --- that was an important lesson to never underestimate your opponent and prepare like crazy for a big game!
Pathetic Miami fans still crying about the Cleveland Gary play but ignoring the fact that Miami’s last TD should have been ruled incomplete.
They got whipped.
I was going to a Catholic school at this time. Of course I was a Notre Dame fan!
Back when the UM Hurricanes were kicking and screaming with all those Bowl games that they played and they have that “It’s All About the U” meaning. That so-called “Catholics vs. Convicts” game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish was ugly as it was.
Wow Lou holtz ... “ shut up””.... bang !!! Quiet
lol bill cosby commercials
i still remember this game....almost having a heart attack at 14 year olds lol
Did cheerleaders not have breasts in the 80s???
College kids didn't get implants back then.
2:49:15 foreshadowing to 2:56:13
Miami's first touchdown was really not a touchdown. His legs were out of bounds before He stuck his arm ...with the ball over the goal line. And with a defense like Notre Dame had it that time, it could have maybe just ended up with the field goal or they could have fumbled or threw an interception.
As a Protestant, I was rooting for the convicts
As a Catholic, I would rooting for my fellow Catholics. GO IRISH GO ND!!
Papists were the first Protestants. Only the Eastern Orthodox preserved the ancient faith of the apostles incorrupt.
I swear Lou Holtz should've thrown to Derek Brown 15 times a game! So underutilized !
41:53 - That look on Lou's face.."Tony, what the hell...oh well, we got some good yards, next play.." And what do you know? Touchdown. #goirish
Lou Holtz tipping the scales at 89 pounds.
Miami got Rob in this game that fumble near the end zone was a touchdown
If so, refs sure made up for it by calling that 4th down pass in the end zone to Andre Brown a touchdown. No way in the world was that a complete pass, especially to a WR with a reputation for dropping the ball. They gifted him his first TD too. Clearly out of bounds and laying on his belly as he reaches the ball at the 2 yard line. Refs should’ve stayed home that day. Just putrid.
Refs screwed the Irish in the first quarter too! Stams caused Walsh to fumble (for the second time) deep in Miami territory, but the idiot ref called it a forward pass...just a horrendous call.
@@johnbattaglia8045
Yeah, that first td was not even close. No idea what the zebra was seeing there. Terrible call that the announcers didn’t even examine for some odd reason.
How in the World was Walsh considered better than Tony Rice??????????