Feb 1981 - UCLA Bruins at Notre Dame Fighting Irish (Full NBC Broadcast)

From February 8, 1981 - A big time clash between the Bruins of UCLA and their longtime hoops nemesis, the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame, as it aired live on NBC from the Athletic & Convocation Center. Dick Enberg, Al McGuire, and Billy Packer were the announcers. Also includes halftime footage of Herschel Walker competing in the Milrose Games.

[@harrymann5523]

I loved NBC’s College Basketball coverage. Saturdays were Marv Albert and Bucky Waters and the ECAC Game of the Week. Sundays were Enberg, Packer, and McGuire.

[@robertjohns1675]

The one constant was ND ,had the greatest rivalry in football with USC and then also had this great series with UCLA in basketball no one could match that. The spirit at ND unmatched

[@taxpayer1962]

Thanks again Joe, Great times listen to that crowd!

[@carseye1219]

Don't you wish college basketball could be like it was in the 70s and 80s? We got to know the players before they left. The players hadn't eclipsed the coaches yet. Recently, I looked at All-American lists from the past and I can recall third teamers from those years. I can't name two players from last year's All-American team now.

[@TheSports50]

Thanks for putting this on. Great memories UCLA vs ND . Top teams in basketball in 70’s and 80’s

[@chrismalloy7960]

Love it! This was a rivalry!

[@phillawson48]

Thank you for show on us memories. But I must admit growing up Nearest South Bend Indiana was a worst 18 years of my life. I definitely enjoy my life here in northern california

[@jeffreymakara2950]

Thanks Joe! Loved UCLA hoops in 70's and 80's along with PSU football. Keep em coming. Appreciate it!

[@billbergstrom681]

this WAS the rivalry for ten years - they played twice a year. Give it to Digger Phelps because he was the only coach that oould come in to Pauley, get the crowd into a frenzy and still win there.

[@bigkahunaburger5185]

Tripucka, Woolridge, and Paxon. Phelps had a squad

[@FlipTrojan]

UCLA could've prevented the mediocre tenures of Larry Farmer and Walt Hazzard and surpassed whatever successes they had under Jim Harrick if they had only given Larry Brown a commensurate salary to what quality CBB HCs were making in the day. As it was, Brown couldn't even afford a house with the pittance that UCLA was paying him. UCLA, it's little known, also pulled this with John Wooden, as well. Wooden lived in a condo throughout at the end of his career and was grossly paid less than what his other HC colleagues were making, despite being the preeminent HC in the country and the man behind the UCLA Dynasty.

[@brianarbenz1329]

Still, Larry was known as "Next Town Brown" because he habitually moved on. He was in love with the game itself, not any place. I have read that during Wooden's years, the coach's salary actually came specifically out of student activity fees, rather than general athletic department revenues. That would make the school limited in how high they could go. Moreover, college basketball was not yet on network TV weekly until 1975-76. The massive TV revenues were not there, and the great majority of schools were not yet licensing their logos and shirts. So the big bucks hadn't become part of the game during Wooden's time. At least, shall we say, not the above board bucks.

[@FlipTrojan]

@@brianarbenz1329 Yeah, before the age of huge TV deals and shoe sponsorships, but certain programs were able to compensate and keep quality HCs around. UCLA, going back to Wooden, always underpaid their HCs because they had the mindset that the privilege of coaching at UCLA was sufficient to stick around. As for Larry Brown, yes, a fair compensatory package more than likely wouldn't have been enough to keep his vagabond ways at UCLA. But watching him coach during this game kind of makes it interesting think how UCLA's hoops would've been going forward instead of the actual descent and eventual slow progress towards respectability it actually took. Hell, Brown would've exceeded whatever heights UCLA would eventually achieve post-'81 had he stayed.

[@damienkirksey7026]

Notre Dame basketball is the most overrated basketball program ever