We’re under 11 weeks until Notre Dame football returns as the Irish are scheduled to play at Navy the first weekend of September, despite the exact day of that weekend not yet being decided.
We’ve been counting down the days until Notre Dame football returns with yesterday giving a tip of the cap to the 1977 national championship squad.
Today’s Fathers Day edition of the countdown features a look back at a magical run that helped Notre Dame upset No. 1 in 1982.
76: Yards of Allen Pinkett’s touchdown run in the 1982 upset of No. 1 Pitt.
Despite being 5-1-1 on the year, Notre Dame was unranked when they visited No. 1 Pitt on November 6, 1982. Pitt was loaded with talent as eventual Pro Football Hall of Famers Dan Marino and Jimbo Covert were playing for the Panthers at the time.
Leading 17-16 at the time, Notre Dame had just forced a Pitt turnover as it appeared the Panthers were about to take the lead. After an incomplete pass on first down, the ball was handed to Pinkett and he took it 76 yards to stretch the Notre Dame lead to eight.
Don’t take my word for it though, listen to the man that made the run describe it.
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upZgcUUB5QU&w=560&h=315]
Notre Dame went on to win 31-16 after Pinkett capped the scoring with just under five minutes to play.
Notre Dame improved to 6-1-1 with the upset and soared from unranked to 13th in the nation, but lost three straight to close the year to Penn State, Air Force and USC to finish 6-4-1, unranked and without a bowl appearance.