Before being a Heisman Trophy winner, first round NFL draft pick, or putting together a Hall of Fame career with the Raiders, [autotag]Tim Brown[/autotag] was a little-known Notre Dame recruit from Dallas.
Brown’s first two seasons in South Bend saw him compile 53 total receptions for 737 yards and four touchdowns while he ran for another.
[autotag]Lou Holtz[/autotag] was hired following the 1985 season and in turn, Brown’s career went from being a solid start to downright legendary at Notre Dame.
Just how did Holtz help Brown reach that potential that helped him end up in Canton at the Pro Football Hall of Fame?
Holtz shared a story about hyping up Brown to himself that the former Notre Dame head coach recently released on social media. Check it out below.
During my time at Notre Dame, I had the privilege of coaching Tim Brown, a wonderful individual and an elite athlete!@81TimBrown’s story is one of perseverance, faith, and dedication. pic.twitter.com/KuRk5QoPPo
It’s safe to say Holtz’s motivation tactics worked as Brown went on to become not just one of the best receivers Notre Dame has ever seen, but that football as a whole has ever seen.
Marcus Freeman is getting set for his third season as Notre Dame’s head coach and its safe to say the training wheels are off for the still young head coach. Gone are the excuses of being a new head coach and done are the looking past of no-shows …
Marcus Freeman is getting set for his third season as Notre Dame’s head coach and its safe to say the training wheels are off for the still young head coach.
Gone are the excuses of being a new head coach and done are the looking past of no-shows against the likes of Marshall and Stanford.
Freeman enters his third season at Notre Dame with sky-high expectations. Getting to the College Football Playoff seems like the bare minimum most Notre Dame fans are looking for in 2024. They’re looking to win a game and make some noise once there.
So as Freeman enters his third season at Notre Dame, how has the all-important third season gone for Fighting Irish coaches over the years?
Regardless of how that third year has gone historically, what you will see is that it will essentially tell the story of the overall tenure each head coach at Notre Dame. Here’s a look back at how each fared in their third year leading the Fighting Irish since the Frank Leahy era.
Freeman’s first two seasons (2021-22): 19-7
Third Season (2024): TBD
[autotag]Marcus Freeman[/autotag] provided a spark to the Notre Dame fan base when [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] left for LSU at the end of the 2021 regular season. So far that spark has resulted in more major recruiting wins for Notre Dame but in year-three the expectation is that more of those recruiting wins will turn into big-time wins on Saturdays.
Kelly’s first two seasons (2010-11): 16-10
Third Season (2012): 12-1, lost BCS National Championship to Alabama
Say what you want about [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] but you can’t argue what he did in short order at Notre Dame. The Irish had been mostly out of the college football spotlight for almost 20 years before his arrival. Kelly’s first two seasons in South Bend were an improvement from the end of the Charlie Weis era, but no great shakes. Kelly would lead Notre Dame to an improbable 12-0 regular season in year-three however and eventually win more games as head coach than anyone else in program history.
Weis’ first two seasons (2005-06): 18-6
Third Season (2007): 3-9
After reaching back-to-back BCS games for the first time, Notre Dame took a huge step back in the third year under [autotag]Charlie Weis[/autotag]. After losing stars [autotag]Brady Quinn[/autotag], [autotag]Jeff Samardzija[/autotag], [autotag]Darius Walker[/autotag], and others, Notre Dame stumbled to a 3-9 season where they were non-competitive often. Weis was have alright starts to each of the next two seasons before November stumbles would cost him his job at the end of 2009.
Willingham’s first two seasons (2002-03): 15-10
Third Season (2004): 6-5 (fired at end of regular season)
[autotag]Tyrone Willingham[/autotag] was the sweetheart of the college football world in 2002, leading Notre Dame to an 8-0 start and No. 4 national ranking. After losing at home to Boston College to end that perfect season, Willingham and the Irish would go just 14-15 the rest of his time in South Bend, resulting in his firing following the a 6-5 regular season in 2004.
Davie’s first two seasons (1997-98): 16-10
Third Season (1999): 5-7
Bob Davie started just 1-4 in his first five games at Notre Dame so by comparison a 15-6 streak heading into year three didn’t seem as bad. After thrashing a poor Kansas team to open the season though the Irish would drop three-straight to Michigan, Purdue, and Michigan State. Despite a couple of comeback wins over Oklahoma and USC that year, the Irish would still finish just 5-7 despite entering November 5-3. Davie would have a bounce back season in 2000, leading Notre Dame to their first BCS appearance (where they were thrashed by Oregon State) but would be fired after another clunker in 2001.
Holtz’s first two seasons (1986-87): 13-10
Third Season (1988): 12-0, National Champions
[autotag]Lou Holtz[/autotag] was missioned with rebuilding Notre Dame football after the woeful Gerry Faust era and rebuild he did. His first season saw the Irish be competitive in nearly every game despite finishing just 5-6 and in year two they earned a Cotton Bowl berth despite getting beat up by Texas A&M while there. Holtz’s third season would cement him in Notre Dame lore forever as he led the Fighting Irish to a 12-0 season which remains their most recent national championship.
Faust’s first two seasons (1981-82): 11-10-1
Third Season: 7-5, Liberty Bowl Champions
Just how bad was the Gerry Faust era at Notre Dame? Consider this: The Fighting Irish going 7-5 and winning the Liberty Bowl in his third season of 1983 was the highpoint. One of the most bizarre coaching hires of all-time was also an all-time backfire. Faust would be let go after a 5-6 1985 season that saw the Irish close the year with a 58-7 defeat at Miami.
Devine’s first two seasons (1975-76): 17-6
Third Season (1977): 11-1, National Champions
Devine took over for [autotag]Ara Parseghian[/autotag] and had incredibly massive shoes to fill. Devine lost three regular season games each of his first two seasons, something Parseghian never did in his 11 years as head coach. With the pressure especially on following an early season loss at Ole Miss, Devine took advantage of the talents of Ross Browner, Joe Montana and others and ran the table to the 1977 national championship in his third season. Devine would last three more years in South Bend, announcing before the 1980 season that he would be stepping down at season’s end.
Parseghian’s first two seasons (1964-65): 16-3-1
Third Season (1966): 9-0-1, National Champions
[autotag]Ara Parseghian[/autotag] was minutes away from coaching the greatest turnaround in football history as he took Notre Dame from 2-8 in 1963 to unbeaten and No. 1 nationally at USC in late November. The Irish lost a late lead in that game that cost them a national championship. Two years later however Parseghian would get his first of two championships in South Bend as the 1966 squad pitched six shutouts and allowed more than 10 points just once all season, a 26-14 win over No. 7 Purdue in the opener.
Hugh Devore coached the 1963 season at Notre Dame as the Fighting Irish went just 2-7 in his forgettable year. The season did however feature a 17-14 win over No. 7 USC so at least he had that?
Kuharich’s first two seasons (1959-60): 7-13
Third Season (1961): 5-5
Joe Kuharich didn’t get the backing from administration that coaches to follow would get but that wasn’t excuse still wasn’t good enough. He started slow his first two years, improved to perfectly average (5-5) in year three, and was gone after another 5-5 campaign in his fourth season.
Brennan’s first two seasons (1954-55): 17-3
Third Season (1956): 2-8
[autotag]Terry Brennan[/autotag] capitalized on following the legendary Frank Leahy and rode it to an impressive first two seasons (although it wasn’t compared to what Leahy did). Reality would come in year three as the Irish bottomed out at 2-8. Brennan’s most memorable moment as Notre Dame head coach was leading the Irish to a legendary upset of unbeaten Oklahoma in 1957 as the Sooners had rode a 47-game winning streak into the contest.
Leahy’s first two seasons (1941-42): 15-2-3
Third Season: 9-1, National Champions
At any other program Frank Leahy would have gone down as the runaway greatest coach in program history. At Notre Dame however he of course would never be able to surpass the man that made college football what it is, Knute Rockne. Leahy started with a bang, coming from Boston College in 1941. He had the Irish in the top-five both of the first two seasons before winning the national championship in year-three. Leahy would go on to lead Notre Dame to three more national championships in his time while also taking time away to serve in World War II (while trying to recruit for his football program, too).
Urban Meyer is back to the grind at Notre Dame this weekend
With Fox Sports in town with “Big Noon Kickoff” for the first time this weekend, a few familiar faces that don’t often make it to South Bend have come along.
One of those is former national champion football coach Urban Meyer who is back on the panel. Meyer spent from 1996-2000 as Notre Dame’s wide receivers coach, spending 1996 with Lou Holtz.
Meyer shared a story detailing what it was like to coach alongside Holtz during Lou’s final game at Notre Dame Stadium back in 1996. He also shares an example of why he liked recruiting at Notre Dame as well. Check it out below.
Former Arkansas Razorbacks All-American Dan Hampton is slated to become the 21st Hog to be inducted the National Football Foundation College Football Hall of Fame.
It’s been 45 years since Dan Hampton departed Arkansas for an NFL Hall of Fame career, but the accolades keep coming in for the Jacksonville product.
Hampton spent four years as a defensive tackle for the Razorbacks, from 1975-78, playing for a pair of legendary coaches. He played the final two season’s of Coach Frank Broyles’ career, then wrapped up his final two seasons under Coach Lou Holtz. Arkansas went 35-10-2 record during Hampton’s career, including a mark of 22-8-1 in the Southwest Conference.
Hampton amassed 239 tackles – 126 unassisted – as a Razorback, including 32 from behind the line of scrimmage and six fumble recoveries. As a senior in 1978, he totaled 98 tackles, including 18 behind the line of scrimmage, while being named SWC Defensive Player of the Year and earning first-team All-SWC honors.
He was also named an AFCA First-Team All-American that season, leading Arkansas to a No. 3 finish in the national polls, following the 31-6 rout of heavily favored No. 2 Oklahoma.
In 1991, Hampton was elected to the University of Arkansas Sports Hall of Honor and a year later, was voted to the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame. He was selected to the Razorbacks’ All-Century team in 1994 and was later named one of the state’s Top 50 greatest athletes of the 20th century.
After being the No. 4 overall pick in the 1979 NFL Draft by Chicago, Hampton spent 12 seasons with the Bears, and is one of only two players to play for the franchise in three different decades. He was also one of the cornerstones of the famous 1985 Bears defense that cruised to a 46-10 victory over New England in Super Bowl XX. That vaunted “46 Defense” allowed just 198 points all season, and recorded shutouts in both NFC playoff games.
Razorbacks in the NFF College Football Hall of Fame:
2024 – Dan Hampton (DL)
2019 – Darren McFadden (RB)
2017 – Danny Ford (HC)
2012 – Jimmy Johnson (DL/AC)
2010 – Ronnie Caveness (LB)
2008 – Lou Holtz (HC)
2004 – Wayne Harris (LB)
2004 – Tracy Rocker (AC)
2003 – Doug Dickey (AC)
2003 – Hayden Fry (AC)
2001 – Barry Switzer (AC)
2000 – Billy Ray Smith Jr. (LB)
1999 – Chuck Dicus (WR)
1997 – Bowden Wyatt (HC)
1992 – Loyd Phillips (DL)
1987 – Johnny Majors (AC)
1984 – Lance Alworth (WR)
1983 – Frank Broyles (HC)
1971 – Clyde Scott (RB/DB)
1967 – Wear Schoonover (WR)
1954 – Hugo Bezdek (HC)
Dan Hampton makes a tackle during the 1978 Orange Bowl victory over Oklahoma.
Jan 26, 1986; New Orleans, LA, USA; FILE PHOTO; Chicago Bears defensive tackle (99) Dan Hampton pressures New England Patriots quarterback (11) Tony Eason during Super Bowl XX at the Superdome. The Bears dominated the Patriots 46-10 giving the Bears their first ever Super Bowl victory. The Chicago defense had 7 sacks and limited the Patriots to a record-low seven rushing yards. Mandatory Credit: Tony Tomsic-USA TODAY NETWORK
A former Notre Dame head coach was quick to call out a current Big Ten head coach after that coach’s team was beaten as a favorite in a New Year’s Six bowl game last week.
No, it’s not what you’re thinking. [autotag]Lou Holtz[/autotag] didn’t say anything about Ryan Day (to our knowledge, anyway). Instead, it was what a different Big Ten head coach said following their recent loss to an SEC team that rubbed [autotag]Charlie Weis[/autotag] the wrong way.
Ole Miss, where Weis’ son is the offensive coordinator, beat Penn State, 38-25, in the Peach Bowl. Afterward, the Penn State head coach referenced there being too many moving parts for why the Nittany Lions lost.
Weis wasn’t too pleased and offered the following:
Congrats to the Ole Miss Rebels for their dominant will over Penn State. Surprised that Coach Franklin chose not to give Ole Miss credit, but chose to blame the loss on “too many moving parts!” Hotty Toddy! On to 2024
Sour grapes of sort or simply sticking up for his son in a way?
Either way, if anyone has experience in speaking to the media after losing a college football game as a head coach, the elder Weis certainly has a large file.
Lou Holtz may be just a week shy of his 87th birthday but that doesn’t mean the legendary former head football coach at Notre Dame doesn’t still see the game well.
Holtz made comments about Ohio State not being physical enough during an appearance on the “Pat McAfee Show” the day before Notre Dame battled the Buckeyes in September. Notre Dame didn’t win the game, but that doesn’t mean what Holtz said wasn’t true.
Holtz mentioned Ohio State had a bunch of wins under Ryan Day, but that the common theme in each of their losses under their head coach was the team was out-physicaled.
That was once again the case in Friday night’s Goodyear Cotton Bowl as the Buckeyes fell to Missouri, 14-3.
Ohio State’s defense played well, but the biggest difference in the game came late. Ohio State ran for 97 yards all night. Missouri gained 94 yards on 17 rush attempts in the fourth quarter when the game was on the line.
Out-physicaled in money time again.
Oh, and social media had a field (Ryan) Day on the Buckeyes head coach while referencing Lou Holtz. Check out some of the best below.
The 2023 college football regular season has come to an end. Plenty happened on the field and plenty away from it. Perhaps no single moment off the field was as memorable as Ohio State coach Ryan Day reacting to Lou Holtz calling out his team for not being physical enough back in September.
Well, Coach Holtz has been found and weighed in on Ohio State and Day’s latest loss – their third straight to Michigan.
Check out the video below as his old ESPN sidekick (and Pittsburgh star) Mark May gets the coach to react to the Buckeyes loss.
In the biggest regular season college football game of the year Saturday, No. 3 Michigan outlasted No. 2 Ohio State en route to moving to 12-0 and the Big Ten championship game next week.
Ohio State now packs up and gets ready for a New Year’s Six bowl game but unless something utterly ridiculous and unforeseen happens, won’t be going to the College Football Playoff.
Michigan led 27-24 when they got the ball back following an Ohio State touchdown with 8:05 remaining. Michigan proceeded to pound the ball down Ohio State’s throats, moving the ball down the field, almost exclusively on the ground as they ran the clock down to 1:08 before kicking a field goal to increase their lead to 30-24.
With how the final score came to be in “The Game” Saturday, it certainly spoke loudly to what Holtz proclaimed.
As Michigan proceeded to pound the ball at will, social media recalled what Lou Holtz said about Ohio State and Ryan Day before the Notre Dame-Ohio State game back in September.
Get ready for Saturday by watching Lou Holtz roast USC
We’ve all heard that USC stands for the University of Spoiled Children, but why did so many USC football players choose to attend USC instead of cross-town at rival UCLA?
Lou Holtz had that answer for you a few years back when he spoke at a pep rally the night before the Notre Dame-USC game. Take a look at this short video to get you pumped, or perhaps even more pumped, as one of the absolute best rivalries in college football once again gets renewed.
If it were a list of the most disrespected then the ’93 Irish would have been #1!
When I recently clicked on an article at 247Sports titled “Miami, USC lead college football’s 10 most-hated teams of all time rankings” I wasn’t expecting to see the team that made me go from liking college football to being obsessed with it.
Had it been a list of the most disrespected teams of all-time I’d have expected to see 1993. That version of the Fighting Irish showed up on the list at eighth overal. Here is what Crawford had to say about that ’93 Notre Dame squad had a national championship blatantly stolen from them.
What is it about Notre Dame that makes the rest of college football fandom rolls their eyes when the Fighting Irish are mentioned among the elites? Go back to 1993 after a late-season loss to Boston College squandered a perfect season and national title for the program. The Fighting Irish were angered after finishing No. 2 behind Bobby Bowden’s Florida State Seminoles — a team Notre Dame beat head-to-head in the ‘Game of the Century’ earlier that season. Lou Holtz let poll voters hear it and the noise indirectly led to the birth of the Bowl Championship Series, a computer-based rankings system used to determine which two teams would play for the national title. Between 1988 and 1993, Notre Dame won 88 percent of its games and became one of America’s teams as a national television staple. But the Irish had plenty of enemies.
No doubt Notre Dame had plenty of enemies, Crawford is right about that and you can view his entire list here. The enemies are why the voters awarded Bobby Bowden a lifetime achievement award in the form of a national championship that season.
For fun, here is a quick look back in photos of the 1993 Game of the Century between No. 1 Florida State and No. 2 Notre Dame. If you don’t recall the game the frustrating thing is that the Irish really did lay the wood to the Seminoles that day but because of legit five dropped would-be interceptions and a couple of offensive lapses that kept Florida State even within shouting distance.
Regardless, enjoy the photos from Notre Dame’s 31-24 victory over the “national champs” that day below as plenty of the “experts” decided to overlook that event in early January.
