spoke at length about a big game (a natty game, I think in 1988) where two running backs were
voted out of the game BY TEAM LEADERS--NOT HOLTZ. They travelled with only three RBs. ND wins the game,
given no chance at all. MVP of the game? Mark Green-----the third running back.
He was ND's second leading rusher on the season among RBs (he rushed for about 20 yards fewer than Brooks on the season). He was also a team captain and a future NFL draft pick. Watters played the '88 season at flanker. Also, I don't think it was the case that ND was "given no chance at all.".
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Ricky Watters, Mark Green, Anthony Johnson, Rodney Culver and Tony Brooks. A 6th running back, Rusty Setzer was on the Rams but was cut before playing a game. Unbelievable talent at all levels of those great Holtz teams from 1988-1993. If there had been a 4-team playoff like today, I think the 1988, 1989, 1992 and 1993 would all have had a chance to win the National Championship. Those teams were that good and that loaded with NFL talent.
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Those were the days.
I thought every ND fan knew this story, but I guess not.
The two players did travel w/ the team but were sent back after the seniors voted. They were back in South Bend by the time the game kicked off. It is not remotely correct to say ND was 'given no chance at all'. I don't recall the line on the game, but we entered the game ranked #1. Also, it was a regular season game and there was no game MVP.
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If anyone on offense got the game ball, it would have been Tony Rice. He was responsible for most of ND's offense in the game. ND had 253 yards of total offense -- Rice had 177 of them, including a team leading 86 yards rushing. Green rushed for 40 yards on 17 carries and had one reception for 5 yards. Rice was responsible for the two biggest offensive plays of the game -- a 55 yard pass to Rocket out of ND's endzone on ND's first play of the game, and a 65 yard TD run on an option play. Several guys on D had a claim to "game ball," including Stan Smagala who returned an INT for a TD.
yesterday. One play I clearly recall from the game is Smagala’s pick six.
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I always thought Smagala was an inconsistent player, but he had a monster game that day.
Having said that, I will also say that recollections are a bit cloudy from back then, I will admit.
He was a Faust recruit and a good player, but Holtz brought in superior guys at his position. Among many other things, Holtz's excellence was also measured in how he maintained team chemistry in this situation, keeping players like Gordon or Ned Bolcar positive even when they lost their starting positions. Think about Bolcar: 2nd Team All-American in 1987 and CBS Defensive Player of the Year and the next season, he was a backup.
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Yep...I was there. Awesome Game, terrible stadium and still is.