Catholics vs. Convicts
Encyclopedia
The 1988 Notre Dame
vs. Miami
football game, colloquially known as "Catholics vs. Convicts", was played on October 15, 1988. The two teams were undefeated when they met at Notre Dame Stadium
. Notre Dame won the closely contested game by a final score of 31-30.
The name "Catholics vs. Convicts" was seized on by the press after a Notre Dame student, Patrick Walsh, began to print t-shirts carrying the slogan prior to the legendary matchup between the two teams at Notre Dame Stadium.
, with both teams being undefeated. Miami, the defending national champion, came in ranked #1 holding a 36-game regular season winning streak while the Irish were ranked #4. The game, which was preceded by a pregame fight between the two teams in the entrance tunnel, was named by USA Today
as one of the greatest college football games of the period 1982-2002.
After a closely contested game, Miami scored a touchdown with 45 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter to pull within one point of Notre Dame, 31-30. Rather than kick the extra point and likely end the game in a 31-31 tie, Miami
head coach
Jimmy Johnson
decided go for the two-point conversion, later reasoning that "We always play to win." However, Steve Walsh's
pass on the play was knocked down by Pat Terrell
, and Notre Dame snapped Miami's winning streak and won 31-30.
Notre Dame would finish the season 12-0, beating #2 Southern California 27-10 on November 26 in the last game of the season and #3 West Virginia
in the 1989 Fiesta Bowl
34-21 on January 2, 1989 to win the national title. Miami would win the rest of its games and finish #2 behind Notre Dame in the polls.
Miami fans still question the accuracy of a Cleveland Gary fumble on the 1-yard line, which they allege was an incorrect call. With Miami trailing 31-24 and facing a critical fourth-and-7 from deep in Irish territory midway through the fourth quarter, Walsh connected with Miami running back Cleveland Gary
streaking across the middle of the field at the Irish 11-yard line. Gary picked up the first down and turned up-field but was tackled at the Notre Dame 1-yard line. He fumbled the ball at the end of the play, and Notre Dame inside linebacker Michael Stonebreaker recovered the football. After the game, Johnson was adamant that Gary was down before the ball came loose and Miami should have retained possession with a first-and-goal at the Notre Dame 1 yard line. As the game was broadcast, Pat Haden and Brent Musburger seemed certain that the call was correct based on the replays. In its recap of the game, the Notre Dame student newspaper, The Observer, agreed Gary appeared down before the fumble. Regardless, Notre Dame's quarterback fumbled three plays later giving Miami the ball on ND's twenty-one yard line from which they scored the game's final touchdown four plays later.
In a recent poll conducted by the University of Notre Dame, the 31-30 win over Miami was voted the Greatest Victory in Fighting Irish history by a landslide.
1988 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team
The 1988 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team represented the University of Notre Dame during the 1988 college football season. The Irish, coached by Lou Holtz, ended the season with 12 wins and no losses, winning the national championship...
vs. Miami
1988 Miami Hurricanes football team
The 1988 Miami Hurricanes represented the University of Miami in the 1988 NCAA College Football season. It would be Jimmy Johnson’s final season as the Hurricanes head coach.-Schedule & Results:-Team Players drafted into in the NFL:-External links:*...
football game, colloquially known as "Catholics vs. Convicts", was played on October 15, 1988. The two teams were undefeated when they met at Notre Dame Stadium
Notre Dame Stadium
Notre Dame Stadium is the home football stadium for the University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team. The stadium is located on the campus of the University of Notre Dame in Notre Dame, Indiana, United States, just north of the city of South Bend....
. Notre Dame won the closely contested game by a final score of 31-30.
The name "Catholics vs. Convicts" was seized on by the press after a Notre Dame student, Patrick Walsh, began to print t-shirts carrying the slogan prior to the legendary matchup between the two teams at Notre Dame Stadium.
The game
The two teams met on October 15, 1988 in Notre Dame, IndianaNotre Dame, Indiana
Notre Dame is a census-designated place north of South Bend in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States; it includes the campuses of three colleges: the University of Notre Dame, Saint Mary's College, and Holy Cross College. Notre Dame is split between Clay and Portage Townships...
, with both teams being undefeated. Miami, the defending national champion, came in ranked #1 holding a 36-game regular season winning streak while the Irish were ranked #4. The game, which was preceded by a pregame fight between the two teams in the entrance tunnel, was named by USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
as one of the greatest college football games of the period 1982-2002.
After a closely contested game, Miami scored a touchdown with 45 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter to pull within one point of Notre Dame, 31-30. Rather than kick the extra point and likely end the game in a 31-31 tie, Miami
Miami Hurricanes football
The Miami Hurricanes football program competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference of the NCAA's Division I Football Bowl Subdivision for the University of Miami. The program began in 1926 and has won five AP national championships...
head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
Jimmy Johnson
Jimmy Johnson (American football coach)
James William "Jimmy" Johnson is an American former NCAA and National Football League head coach. As of 2010, he is currently an analyst for Fox NFL Sunday, the Fox network's NFL pregame show. He was the first football coach whose teams won both an NCAA Division 1A National Championship and a...
decided go for the two-point conversion, later reasoning that "We always play to win." However, Steve Walsh's
Steve Walsh (NFL)
Stephen John "Steve" Walsh is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League.-Personal life:...
pass on the play was knocked down by Pat Terrell
Pat Terrell
Patrick Christopher Terrell is a former American football safety in the NFL for the Los Angeles Rams, New York Jets, Carolina Panthers, and Green Bay Packers...
, and Notre Dame snapped Miami's winning streak and won 31-30.
Notre Dame would finish the season 12-0, beating #2 Southern California 27-10 on November 26 in the last game of the season and #3 West Virginia
1988 West Virginia Mountaineers football team
The 1988 West Virginia Mountaineers football team completed the regular season with a 11–0 and traveled to the Fiesta Bowl to decide the National Championship, where they lost to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish 34–21.-1988 Schedule:-1988 season:...
in the 1989 Fiesta Bowl
1989 Fiesta Bowl
The 1989 Sunkist Fiesta Bowl, played on January 2, 1989, was the 18th edition of the Fiesta Bowl. The game featured the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, and the West Virginia Mountaineers....
34-21 on January 2, 1989 to win the national title. Miami would win the rest of its games and finish #2 behind Notre Dame in the polls.
Miami fans still question the accuracy of a Cleveland Gary fumble on the 1-yard line, which they allege was an incorrect call. With Miami trailing 31-24 and facing a critical fourth-and-7 from deep in Irish territory midway through the fourth quarter, Walsh connected with Miami running back Cleveland Gary
Cleveland Gary
Cleveland Everette Gary also known as Cleveland Edward Gary , is a former professional American football player who was selected in the first round of the 1989 NFL draft by the Los Angeles Rams...
streaking across the middle of the field at the Irish 11-yard line. Gary picked up the first down and turned up-field but was tackled at the Notre Dame 1-yard line. He fumbled the ball at the end of the play, and Notre Dame inside linebacker Michael Stonebreaker recovered the football. After the game, Johnson was adamant that Gary was down before the ball came loose and Miami should have retained possession with a first-and-goal at the Notre Dame 1 yard line. As the game was broadcast, Pat Haden and Brent Musburger seemed certain that the call was correct based on the replays. In its recap of the game, the Notre Dame student newspaper, The Observer, agreed Gary appeared down before the fumble. Regardless, Notre Dame's quarterback fumbled three plays later giving Miami the ball on ND's twenty-one yard line from which they scored the game's final touchdown four plays later.
In a recent poll conducted by the University of Notre Dame, the 31-30 win over Miami was voted the Greatest Victory in Fighting Irish history by a landslide.