Herald and news., September 21, 1958, Page 38, Image 38

After the worst football season in their history two years ago, the Fighting Irish hit the
T
his could de the season in which Notre Dame finds
the right fork in the load on its long jour
ney back to national football laurels.
The South Bend, Ind., school, one of the pioneers
of big-time college football, isn't doing too much
talking about this at least not for publication.
It's been 10 years since the Irish have won the
national title. And though some observers close to
the Notre Dame scene say that 1958 still will be part
of the rebuilding program, there are solid reasons
why the Irish might wind up on top of the heap. In
any case, they should be very strong contenders.
Though he's starting his fifth season at what is
generally regarded as the toughest job in college
football, Notre Dame's coach Terry Brennan, at 30,
is the youngest of the game's major skippers.
Yet Terry already has carried as heavy a load of
problems, pressures, and headaches as many of the
old salts of the college coaching fraternity.
After winning 17 of its 20 games in the first two
seasons under Brennan, Notre Dame blew a big
gasket in the 1956 season, losing eight of 10
games in its worst season in history.
Buzzards could be seen circling over Terry's head.
There were cries of "Fire the coach " from many
corners; charges that Notre Dame was de-empha-si.ing
the sport she had made famous; that Brennan
had been a good coach while he was using the ma
terial of his predecessor pilot, Frank Leahy; that
Brennan was a baby trying to do a man's work.
The ignoble '56 season hit its dramatic peak on
the eve of the final game when Leahy stepped into
the picture with a public statement that the legend
ary "Fighting Irish" lacked fight. Brennan was
deeply hurt by the remark of his former coach, and
there has been a reported coolness between the two
ever since. ,
Brennan had been a bread-and-butter halfback
under Leahy, whose explicit instructions to the
Notre Dame quarterback were: "Remember, when
it's fourth down within striking distance of the goal
and you only need a few yards, give the ball to
Terry." Brennan. who never lacked fight, almost
always delivered.
Losing football seasons at Notre Dame are about
as rare as Democrats in Vermont. There
was the 0-1 record in 1887, the 1-2 season in
1SS8, the 3-5-1 one in 1933, and the worst of them
all. the 2-8 misery in '56.
So it figured that this school, founded by the
French, made famous by a Norwegian immigrant
coach. Knute Hockne, and identified as "Irish,"
would be a target for questions before last season.
Father Hesburgh, the school's president, fenced
beautifully with the big question of de-emphasis,
lie said simply: "You can only de-emphasize that
which you have emphasized, ami we have never
emphasized football here at Notre Dame. We like
having good football teams but will not tower our
scholastic standards to have them. The passing grade
at Notre Dame is "0, but our athletes must average
mm mm h
77 to be eligible for competition with the varsity."
But for the hardened sports buff, who counts suc
cess in wins and losses, Brennan and his Notre
Dame players answered the question with action in
'57, posting an amazing 7-3 record against a mur
derous schedule.
In many ways, Notre Dame, long accustomed to
taking the bows, regarded this as its greatest season
of glory even better than a national title.
She had gone into last season in a rare role, a
distinct underdog. Even her die-hard, loyal "sub-
way alumni" ditln t see any hope of better than an
even split in 10 games. But what she accomplished
became the comeback story of the sports year.
"Sleepy" Jim Crowley of Four Horsemen fame,
who knew many hours of Notre Dame grid glory,
called it "my favorite Notre Dame team of all."
Among the wins were dramatic performances
over Army and the big blast which stopped Okla
homa's winning streak. Those two games would
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The Fighting Irish, with their all-out brand of football, may have the horses to drive to the 1958 title.
8 Family Weekly, September 21, 19:,.1
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