The Fighting Irish-Then and Now

*Since the 1924 season, the Fighting Irish have had 10 instances in which they were named national champions, including most recently in 1988, under leghendary coach Lou Holtz, as well at 11 undefeated seasons.
*Since then, however, Notre Dame football has dropped off significantly. It's been so bad, that their football team has not won a bowl game since the 1993 Cotton Bowl in a 24-21 win over Texas A&M. They've played in a few big bowls since, including the 1994 Fiesta (L Colorado 41-24), 1995 Orange (L Florida State 31-26), 2000 Fiesta (L Oregon State 41-9), 2005 Fiesta (L Ohio State 34-20) and most recently 2006 Sugar (L LSU 41-14).
*Since their 2006 Fiesta Bowl loss, the team has taken a pitfall, into the NCAA Divison 1A dog house, going 3-9 in 2007, which involved their first loss to Navy in over 35 years and finishing a bysmal 6-6 in 2008, which included a loss to a Syracuse team who had fired their coach less than a week prior to their meeting.

*The Irish have had legendary coaches such as Knute Rockne, who coached the Four Horsemen, Frank Leahy, who led Notre Dame to four AP National Championships, Ara Paresghian, who won two national titles and was considered by many as the best coach in the country during his tenure there, Dan Devine, who followed Ara by winning the 1977 National Title, and the afore mentioned Lou Holtz who gave them their most recent National Title in 1988, beating West Virginia 34-21 in the Fiesta Bowl.

*Going back in time for the Irish brings up a lot of memorable football games, like the "Game of the Century" played between Notre Dame and Ohio State in 1935, where both teams met undefeated and played a hard fought battle, which culminated in an 18-13 victory for the Irish.

*A second "Game of the Century" was played against Army in 1946, as well as a third in 1966 vs. Michigan State.

*Another amazing claim to fame the football program has is seven members proud to bear the name "Heisman Trophy Winner". These winners include Angelo Bertelli in 1943, Johnny Lujack 1947, Leon Hart 1949, Johnny Lattner 1953, Paul Hornung 1956, John Guarte 1964 and most recently Tim Brown of the 1988 National Championship Team, won the award the previous year in 1987.

*Notre Dame has also been blessed with five different Maxwell Award Winners, which goes to the most valuable player of the year, as voted on by the sportswriters, sportscasters and NCAA head coaches. Irish winners include Leon Hart in 1949, Johnny Lattner in 1952 and 1953, Jim Lynch in 1966, Ross Browner in 1977, and Brady Quinn in 2006. Quinn went on to finish 3rd in the Heisman voting that year.

*48 Notre Dame coaches and players lie immortalized in the College Football Hall of Fame, leading all universities in players inducted. All four horseman are members, as well as legends like Angelo Bertelli, Jack Cannon, Dan Devine, George "The Gipper" Gipp, Frank Hoffman, Paul Hornung, Frank Leahy, Ara Parseghian, Knute Rockne, John "Clipper" Smith, Joe Theismann, and Chris Zorich.

T*heir program tradition has led to many of their players having great successes in the National Football League. In total, the Irish have had 61 players be selected in the 1st round of the NFL draft, five number one overall picks and a total of 463 players.
*Their number one overall selections were QB Angelo Bertelli in 1944 to the Boston Yanks, ironically QB Frank Dancewicz in 1946 to the Boston Yanks, DE Leon Hart in 1950 to the Detroit Lions, QB Paul Hornung in 1957 to the Green Bay Packers, and DE Walt Patulski in 1972 to the Buffalo Bills.

*10 former Notre Dame members are inshrined in the NFL Hall of Fame, including Joe Montana, Curly Lambeau, and Paul Hornung.
*They also have 43 players currently on NFL rosters. So as you can see, though they're struggling mightily as of late, they maintain a strong and presitigous history in the NCAA Football World and will hope to get back on top on the years to come, with their coach Charlie Weis and top prospect recruit Jimmy Claussen.