The date was September 7, 1991, and if it feels like it was a long time ago take into account that it was the day of the first game Notre Dame played on NBC as a part of their new deal with the network.
The Irish were playing host to Indiana to kick off the 1991 season, something that comes to mind today as the Irish and Hoosiers just announced a home-and-home deal for 2030 and 2031.
It wasn’t a particularly memorable game as Notre Dame cruised to a 49-27 victory, but one play, in particular, that afternoon is still one that is looked at by Notre Dame fans.
Sitting at their own 42-yard line, quarterback Rick Mirer dropped back to pass, found tight end Irv Smith, and Smith took the Indiana secondary for a ride, carrying a pair of defensive backs roughly 20 yards in securing the score.
Smith played at Notre Dame through 1992 and became a first-round draft pick of the New Orleans Saints in 1993 as he’d have a seven-year NFL career that included 15 touchdown receptions.
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