September 20, 2006

FOR EIGHT DECADES A CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY IN NORTH CENTRAL INDIANA HAS SOMEHOW MANAGED TO REACH OUT AND CAPTURE THE HEARTS OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL FANS IN EVERY CORNER OF THE COUNTRY

HIS LIFE WAS THE STUFF OF LEGEND--SOME OF IT CREATED BY THE MAN HIMSELF--BUT THE TRUTH IS THAT THE HISTORY OF NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL RESTS SQUARELY ON THE SHOULDERS OF KNUTE ROCKNE

THE STORY BEHIND THE MOST FAMOUS NOTRE DAME PLAYER OF THEM ALL

A CHRONICLE OF NOTRE DAME'S ASTOUNDING 11 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP SEASONS, CAPTURED OVER THE FOLLOWING 22 PAGES IN THE WORDS, THE PHOTOGRAPHS AND THE GLORY OF THEIR TIME

RECORD: 10-0 ALL-AMERICAS: JIM CROWLEY, HB; ELMER LAYDEN, FB; HARRY STUHLDREHER, QB. LED BY A BRILLIANT BACKFIELD, NOTRE DAME STORMED ARMY

RECORD: 9-0 ALL-AMERICAS: FRANK CARIDEO, QB; JACK CANNON, G. NOTRE DAME WON THE FIRST OF TWO STRAIGHT TITLES DESPITE PLAYING EVERY GAME ON THE ROAD

RECORD: 10-0 ALL-AMERICAS: FRANK CARIDEO, QB; MARCHY SCHWARTZ, HB. A THIRD AND FINAL CHAMPIONSHIP FOR ROCKNE AND A FIRST IN NEW NOTRE DAME STADIUM

RECORD: 9-1-0 ALL-AMERICAS: ANGELO BERTELLI, QB; CREIGHTON MILLER, HB; JIM WHITE, T; PAT FILLEY, G. THE IRISH WERE CROWNED CHAMPS BY THE AP FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER

RECORD: 8-0-1 ALL-AMERICAS: GEORGE CONNOR, TACKLE; JOHN LUJACK, QB. LOADED WITH TALENTED EX-SERVICEMEN, NOTE DAME ROLLED OVER EVERYONE BUT ARMY (A 0-0 TIE)

RECORD: 9-0 ALL-AMERICAS: JOHN LUJACK, QB; BILL FISCHER, G; GEORGE CONNOR, T. NOTRE DAME OUTSCORED ITS OPPONENTS BY AN AVERAGE OF 26.5 POINTS PER GAME

RECORD: 10-0 ALL-AMERICAS: LEON HART, E; TIM MARTIN, T; EMIL SITKO, HB. RUNNER-UP TO MICHIGAN IN '48, NOTRE DAME ROLLED TO COACH FRANK LEAHY'S FOURTH TITLE SEASON

RECORD: 9-0-1 ALL-AMERICAS: NICK EDDY, HB; JIM LYNCH, LB; TOM REGNER, G. DESPITE THE TIE WITH THE SPARTANS, NOTRE DAME WON ITS FIRST TITLE IN 17 YEARS

RECORD: 11-0 ALL-AMERICAS: MIKE TOWNSEND, FS. WITH A SWEET 24-23 WIN IN THE SUGAR BOWL, NOTRE DAME WRESTED THE TITLE FROM ALABAMA

IN SOUTH BEND winning isn't everything, nor has it been the only thing. But it sure seems to be the thing. Notre Dame's .7435 winning percentage is second only to Michigan among Division I...

RECORD: 11-1 ALL-AMERICAS: ROSS BROWNER, DE; KEN MACAFEE, TE. THE FIGHTING IRISH STUNNED THE UNBEATEN TEXAS LONGHORNS IN THE COTTON BOWL

RECORD: 12-0 ALL-AMERICAS: FRANK STAMS, DE; ANDY HECK, OT; MICHAEL STONEBREAKER, LB. NOTRE DAME TROUNCED WEST VIRGINIA TO COMPLETE A PERFECT SEASON

IN HIS PURSUIT OF PERFECTION, FRANK LEAHY BUILT AN UNSTOPPABLE IRISH JUGGERNAUT IN SOUTH BEND AND ARGUABLY TWO OF THE GREATEST COLLEGE FOOTBALL TEAMS EVER TO PLAY THE GAME

HOW DO YOU PICK OUT THE BRIGHTEST STARS FROM A GALAXY? YOU LOOK AT ACHIEVEMENTS, IMPACT ON THE TEAM--AND YOU SAY A PRAYER

JUST THREE SEASONS INTO HIS 11-YEAR TENURE IN SOUTH BEND, COACH ARA PARSEGHIAN HAD NOTRE DAME'S LOYAL SONS AND DAUGHTERS FILLED WITH FIGHTING IRISH PRIDE AGAIN

NOTRE DAME'S FOOTBALL HISTORY IS FULL OF FANTASTIC FACTS AND FIGURES

THE UNLIKELIEST OF BIG-TIME COACHES, NOTRE DAME GRADUATE CHARLIE WEIS IS RESTORING THE IRISH TO GLORY

THE TRIUMPHS AND TRADITIONS OF NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL HAVE BEEN COVERED IN SPORTS ILLUSTRATED FOR 50 YEARS

TIM BROWN REFLECTS ON A HEISMAN-WINNING CAREER IN SOUTH BEND