Notre Dame vs USC November 30, 1974 ESPN Classic (abridged)

[@josephgonzales8897]

I miss Keith Jackson..........a friggin legendary voice

[@historyman4629]

My 3 favorite commentators (not necessarily in this order): Keith Jackson, Pat Summerall, and Tom Brookshire.

[@RK-um9tu]

@@historyman4629 You are joking right? Tom Brookshire was an alcoholic who never said anything insightful. All he'd ever say was "Tell you what, he's a good football player." or some variation of that statement.

[@WillMuny]

@@historyman4629 Mine are Keith Jackson and Vin Scully. I grew up on Keith Jackson and college football and Vin Scully and baseball. Vin Scully was so good he made me an Expos fan as a kid without ever having seen them play, just his radio calls on Dodgers baseball versus the Expos.

[@mreppen1]

Keith Jackson and NCAA Football is like beer and pizza.

[@rodavis1363]

Whoa Nellie!

[@Jiltedin2007]

R.I.P.: Ara Parseghian and John McKay. Two of the greatest coaches in College Football History during that time period.

[@marcelmiller7551]

Bear Bryant

[@philliplaplante8086]

I was at this game. I was a 13 year old 8th grader who played Pop Warner football. It was one of the first USC games I ever attended. I was a Trojan for life after that epic comeback! 5 years later, I enrolled as a Freshman. ✌🏼🤨

[@jimpowell2240]

I was 13 as well when this incredible game was played... I was iving in Alhambra , CA. These were the two best teams in the country that year. I don't know how they both didn't have perfect records going into the game. ND went to the Orange Bowl and beat undefeated #1 Alabama, USC beat Tony Dorset's Pittsburgh in September and then Ohio State in the Rose Bowl. I heard that the game changing play was when David Lewis leveled Mark McLane on the kickoff after AD ran back the 2nd half kickoff. I heard that hit just made the home crowd believe that something special was about to happen. I'm told the crowd stayed on their feet for at least the entire 3rd quarter. The comback still seems so wonderfully incomprehensible. I'm jealous of those who were there at the game but extremely happy for you as well.

[@philliplaplante8086]

@@jimpowell2240 I didn’t sit down the entire 2nd half! The energy was unbelievable. Fight On! ✌🏼

[@buckstraw925]

Definitely the most incredible college comeback games. I'll never forget watching it with my little brother and just going nuts. A true classic!

[@8avexp]

I remember this game very well. One of the most incredible and graphic displays of momentum ever seen.

[@billcollins2798]

Oh, yeah. I remember it too. As an Irish fan, I was having a great time until the second half. One rarely sees that kind of meltdown, but the Irish seemed like they were playing not to lose and everything collapsed.

[@8avexp]

@@billcollins2798 Years later Ara said he would have called a time out after Davis's kickoff return. What bugged me about Davis was he never showed any humility. He was so full of himself.

[@jco4him]

I was 19 coming home from college. Got home after the first half. Being USC fans going to college in L.A. We were all watching the game and each time SC scored we stood up and screamed. It was the most electrifying game I've ever seen.

[@pirateprinsess101]

I was 8 and was at this game. It was so loud the coliseum was shaking. I had my hands covering my ears and my eyes were transfixed on the game. It was amazing to be part of history

[@kwanamaker1]

I am jealous that you got to see it. You saw a once in a lifetime game!

[@toddlee933]

I was there. I’ve been hooked in college football ever since. What a ballgame.

[@lopezmt5]

Coach John McKay when asked how he was able to get his son to play on his team said, “I had a rather distinct advantage. I slept with his mother." After coaching in the NFL, McKay received harsh criticism from the media about his coaching skills in the NFL, McKay replied "You guys don't know the difference between a football and a bunch of bananas." In the next interview, members of the media left bananas for McKay. He then replied, "You guys don't know the difference between a football and a Mercedes Benz."

[@GeorgeDamon]

This was one of the all-time greatest college football games I ever saw.

[@leoderosia9279]

I am 55 now and this is one of most incredible games I have ever seen, nd and patriot fan.

[@Lfg117]

Woody Hayes hilarity: Talked about forward-pass like throwing the ball was a foreign concept. 🤣

[@breakmylegs7294]

I am the same age as you, I remember watching the game and it was one of the first I'd seen and one of the strangest

[@brandongreen5884]

@@Lfg117 Despite the fact that it came out later one of his most "admired" people was John McKay! And guess what? Pro football passes!

[@jefferysimmons4501]

I was 14 years old watching my team get SMACKED!!! At halftime I was soo mad, I told my dad I was going outside to cut the grass. About 10 minutes later he came running out front telling me A.D just took the 2nd half kick off 100 yards for a touchdown. I told him, "So what, they were still losing 24-12". Minutes later, he came back outside to inform me the score was now 26-24, as A.D. scored again. I was now intrigued. I turned off the mower and went in the house just in time to see A.D. score his 3rd touchdown. The energy and enthusiasm of this comeback was literally pouring thru the T.V. screen. I was so excited I couldn't stand it. They were taking Norte Dame APART and I was loving every second of it. This was one of many SC games that cemented my feelings about wanting to play football at Southern California. This is what the phrase Fight On✌ is all about. What a game!!!

[@kwanamaker1]

I loved your story! It was great. I gave up on them at halftime too and went to my room to read and fume, and then heard my brother yelling as Davis returned the kickoff. I went back in and was astounded the rest of the game! Wow!

[@jpowers55]

WOW. Sports made a 14 year old boy so mad he went outside to mow the lawn. That doesn't happen anymore.

[@jefferysimmons4501]

I appreciate the compliment. I was suppose to cut it BEFORE the game. My dad didn't play that. He was a keep your word kinda dude. He was one of the main reasons I went to SC to play football. I told him that's where I was going to go when I was about 5-6 years old. We were watching an SC game on T.V., and Mike Garrett was playing tailback. Once I saw Garrett, the horse and heard the fight song, I was hooked. Ever time I doubted myself or thought about going to a different school he would say "I thought you said you where going to Southern California"? That always got me back into focus.

[@bbigjohnson069]

@@jefferysimmons4501 When you left USC you held records for most receptions career, season, and game. The game record was 11 and it stood for awhile. What was it like playing for John Robinson? Or in '81 #1 vs. #2 Oklahoma in front of 90K. With guys like Marcus Allen, Ronnie Lott? Three thrillers vs. UCLA and on and on... Incidentally Vince Evans tells about the same story you did on why he came to USC. My grandfather (I never met) had a business on Hoover. They would walk from there to the Coliseum. He had season tickets in the 1930s. My dad died in '75 when I was 12 but my uncle told me how he and my dad would hop the fence if they didn't have a nickel to get in. Then sneak down to where there dad was. I remember Jimmy Jones hitting Sam Dickerson to beat UCLA in '69 was it?

[@bbigjohnson069]

@@jefferysimmons4501 When you left USC you held records for most receptions career, season, and game. The game record was 11 and it stood for awhile I believe. What was it like playing for John Robinson? Or in '81 #1 vs. #2 Oklahoma in front of 90K? With guys like Marcus Allen, Ronnie Lott? Three thrillers vs. UCLA and on and on... Incidentally Vince Evans tells about the same story you did on why he came to USC. My grandfather (I never met) had a business on Hoover. They would walk from there to the Coliseum. He had season tickets in the 1930s. My dad died in '75 when I was 12 but my uncle told me how he and my dad would hop the fence if they didn't have a nickel to get in. Then sneak down to where there dad was. I remember Jimmy Jones hitting Sam Dickerson to beat UCLA in '69 was it?

[@clintscroggs65]

My father, who was no college football fan, was even mesmerized and astounded by this game. I remember it well.

[@MichaelSimmons.]

My brother and I watched the first half, of this game, and then left for a school dance. We were thinking, we weren't going to miss anything, it looks like Notre Dame, has it wrapped up. I remember how shocked we were, and mad that we missed it, when someone told us at the dance, how SC had come back. One of the all-time great games, in college football.

[@paulespinoza974]

I still do not get tired of viewing this game

[@MegaJohnf1]

Real football, played on real grass, with real emotion and passion....just the exact opposite of the last 20 years

[@GBU61]

I was a Buckeye fan and tuned in to the game because Woody was a guest analyst. I also wanted to watch USC because Ohio State was going to play the Trojans in the Rose Bowl. Watching Diggs brought back memories of the catch he made when USC went for two and made it-costing Ohio State a national title.

[@billrogan9350]

I still can't watch this. I'm still stunned at the turn of events. I was 12 and haven't seen a game like this since. Go Irish!

[@blazer79]

I remember watching the first half & then left to go watch a College Basketball game at St. Bonaventure University. The Public Address Announcer had a blast when the game ended. His words: “Final Score: Notre Dame 24 USC 55!” The fans there were stunned since many left the game with the Irish up 24-0.

[@caliscribe2120]

Keith Jackson. Voice of my youth.PS Holy crap Woody Hayes color commentator.

[@sunshinegarcia3866]

As a 12 year old kid ready start junior high school my college football team was fighting Irish of nortedame what a geart break this game was USC was unstoppable in the second half i sat stunned as my best friends and brothers rubbing in ever terrible minute 😂😂😅😅😅 great time too be young ....

[@markdiaz2052]

Remember this game clearly, was doing errands, heard the first half on radio with Tom Kelly, got home in time for epic comeback. This game drove Ara Parseghian into retirement, he could not bear the thought of watching that "horse" again, so many disappointments at the Coliseum. In 1964 and 1970, USC ruined undefeated Notre Dame seasons.

[@timothymiller1783]

The referees had no mikes in those days, and were quite dramatic. I loved it!

[@ynp1978]

I was only 11 at the time and watching on T.V. Most electrifying game I have ever seen. Haven't seen anything like it since!

[@michaelkingsbury4305]

Me too, 11 yo. and better yet my parents met at USC! Best football game I ever saw.

[@roberttrout3588]

Me too😎👍

[@brettshepherd5240]

Usc has played many great games but this one here is THE BEST BECAUSE WE KICKED NOTRE DAMES AZZES BACK TO SOUTH BEND! This game is why I became a USC fan.

[@1notredamefightingirishfan12]

We kick usc asses back to California

[@1notredamefightingirishfan12]

I became an ND fan after we kicked south Florida asses back to Florida

[@jeannine1991]

You can’t believe how loud this game was. ✌🏽

[@BAYAREA-kd1ig]

Not only a comeback, but a ass kicking in the 2nd half. Wasn't alive to see this game, but the only game that I've seen comparable to this was when Texas beat Oklahoma State in 2004. Oklahoma State was up 35-7 at one point in the 1st half then lose 56-35.

[@ckw7647]

I remember watching this game live.

[@toddnelson7711]

I was 11 years old living in Washington DC.I saw the game at my grand parents house.

[@gordonreed2736]

A friend who was there said no one sat down n the 2nd half

[@reddfoxx897]

First tome seekng a usc game this old. Been a fan since pete carrol dynasty grew up in la.

[@revpgesqredux]

i was in the car listening to scratch AM radio and annoying my parents for hte entire first half. i got razzed for even asking to watch the second half on TV. Hopeless case. Other people wanted to watch other things, and just one screen back in the day. I was insistent. And the rest was history.

[@toastnjam7384]

Me and my buddy went nut's in the second half, it was amazing. Anthony Davis got screwed out of the Heisman Trophy because the ballots were due before this game was played. Not sure if it was because of this game but the rules were changed to have the voting after all regular season games were played.

[@kwanamaker1]

I totally agree. He got screwed because they sent ballots in early. It was as big a turnaround as I ever saw on tv.

[@bartleygorman3546]

As a Notre dame fan he’d of got my vote in 72 and 74

[@timcollins3794]

A.d. and Ricky bell were both robbed of Heismans.

[@eustacecourage7478]

Amazing,incredible,fantastic,glorious,stunning.................................I'm referring to the USC cheerleaders.

[@bakerman10]

What a great comeback.

[@Papawill13]

What a great blowout.

[@bobmackenzie199]

This was the greatest game in the history of sports.

[@thomasb.smithjr.8401]

Two thoughts: I don't know if Ara had planned on retiring before the '74 season began. I sense this game may have been the tipping point for him as the pressure to win at ND was immense. Like Leahy, Ara left after ten years to maintain his sanity. Too bad Coach Hayes didn't win the national title in '75 by losing to UCLA in the Rose Bowl. Had the Buckeyes won, I think Woody would have retired and gone into the broadcast booth full time. Then that terrible ending in '78 wouldn't have happened. 😮 🏉

[@bartleygorman3546]

In 1974 Notre Dame had only 3 bad qt’s of football, one qt vs Purdue and 2 qt’s vs USC. But in them 3 qt’s they were outscored 73-0

[@EphSBGGSO]

Woody Hayes doing the color? Whoa Nellie

[@svdd10]

Loved Keith Jackson and his colorful announcing!

[@blazer79]

Just a week before this game was played, Joe Paterno was the analyst when Michigan faced Ohio State.

[@8avexp]

This was an experiment that ABC tried in 1974 - having a different head coach serve as guest analyst each week. Even Ara was a guest analyst that season during an off week for ND. I seem to recall that they paired the guest coach with Keith Jackson while Chris Schenkel had either Bud Wilkinson or Duffy Daugherty with him.

[@BAYAREA-kd1ig]

Barry Switzer announced the Sugar Bowl with Keith Jackson

[@bbigjohnson069]

@@8avexp McKay told this story: "Duffy Daugherty and I are good friends. He suggested to get a dog. Then when you lose and come home the dog will be your friend. I got beat by Notre Dame one time 51-0 and when I came home he bit me."

[@miri9885]

Incredible 2nd half of football played by USC.... Anthony Davis should have won the Heisman in 74... Allot of west coast games were never seen in other parts of the country back then so writters never seen AD as much as they seen Archie Griffin who eventually won the award...

[@8avexp]

Davis was so full of himself it wasn't even funny.

[@gregorypatton4706]

Notre Dame falls asleep in the second half well the most amazing two halves of football I've ever seen a game you just can never forget a shameful display by Notre Dame and an epic victory by USC

[@jessem7556]

Woody Hayes is pretty nice when in a press box.

[@8avexp]

He had some good things to say. On the kickoff return, he pointed out that, "That young man who didn't clip on that return is a smart football player." Although not shown here, the Trojans recovered a fumble very late in the game and Hayes remarked, "And if I know John McKay, he has ho intention of scoring any more points." After Jackson remarked, "Certainly doesn't need any more," Hayes continued, "He's a fine sportsman. I know him too well." McKay had the third and fourth stringers in the game at that point, and they did run out the clock without running up any more points.

[@dexculpepper-py1jr]

Back when college football was great

[@timothymiller1783]

Keith Jackson had a great voice, but he made lots of errors. I counted twice in this video where he referred to USC as ND. In another game a few years later, an offensive unit was jumping on each other, celebrate a touchdown, and he exclaimed, "There's a fight in the end zone!" 😅

[@yeildo1492]

I was working and listening on the radio. Almost turned it off at halftime. Ara was clearly a "take a shot deep after a turnover" kind of coach. Exact same play after the int and the 4th down stop. 18:03 Attagirl....

[@williamdunphy352]

Commentators: Keith Jackson & Woody Hayes.

[@Jiltedin2007]

I'll never forget the headline on The Herald Examiner Sports Section in the Sunday Paper after this game: 55-24 THIS IS NO IRISH JOKE!

[@martinfelsenfeld6012]

About halfway through the YT version of this 1974 contest, a fan thinks he's from Guam as the T-shirt says, and he held up an ABC Sports banner! Maybe the game was televised in Guam live, but it took Hafa Adai to pick up the story after it (lol)!

[@romanclay1913]

The only time I root for SC is when they play the Irish. A UCLA alum.

[@martinlynch5111]

Best 2nd Half ever.Way to go SC.

[@rockyracoon3233]

55 UNANSWERED points!

[@wallacewellons8757]

I was 12 an got the sports illustrated the next week an it said the EARTHQUAKE IN CALI LOVE THEM TROJANS WITH A.D

[@8avexp]

I still have that copy. It was, "That California Earthquake." I thought it was well-written, with lots of quips such as, "With some 13 minutes still left to play, the Trojans had conquered Ireland, but before they could roll over Austria, Poland and Denmark, McKay pulled out his first string and let quarterbacks Vince Evans and Rob Adolph finish out the game." It even mentioned that McKay was an Irish Catholic while Ara was an Armenian Presbyterian.

[@bbigjohnson069]

There's a great low angle shot just after AD fielded the 2nd half kickoff. You can see USC wedge comprised of all the other running backs ready to spring AD. Keith Jackson's call is great but I like Tom Kelly's radio call better. "McGlaughlin advances on the football, it's been an Irish afternoon as he boots it high and long and deep. In the end zone Davis, coming out at the 10, 15, 20, comin' outside at THE 30, the 35, 40. HE'S GOIN' ALL THE WAY! THEY WON'T CATCH HIM! TOUCHDOWN USC! ONE HUNDRED YARDS AND THEN SOME! LISTEN TO THIS CROWD!"

[@martinmasten4107]

I think this led ads to resign. USC taunted nd to kick to Davis.... I left home to bicycle to a friends it was

[@mrauttomatichst13]

The Irish look like they're in their 30's..like one of them highschool, b movies

[@daisyno2673]

55 pts in 20:00 ?

[@bbigjohnson069]

Less than 17 minutes!

[@huskyjerk]

Ara had to have taken a lot of heat from Irish fans after this. Was this virtually the end for Ara? Would like to hear thoughts from Irish fans.

[@8avexp]

Ara had already privately decided to resign at the end of the season after the Navy game. In his words, he was physically and emotionally drained. Six key players were suspended that season, several of his close friends died and Purdue, a 30-point underdog, derailed ND's hopes of repeating as National Champions. It wasn't until two weeks after this game that word got out about Ara's resignation. Then before he could meet with Father Ned about possibly naming one of his assistants to succeed him (Tom Pagna would have been an excellent choice), Fr. Ned went out and hired Dan Devine.

[@timothymiller1783]

"Times out" is proper English.

[@SteveBurke03181962]

Montana a freshman there yet?

[@Seanpatf66]

I have hated USC ever since

[@ynp1978]

LOL! I have hated ND my entire life! In our family that hatred has been passed down from generation to generation! My old man always told the story about the fainting Irish from a game against Iowa in the early 50s!

[@1notredamefightingirishfan12]

@@ynp1978 I have hated sc since 2020. Hatred is all in my family. My dog watching South crap lose last year!

[@Biggdoom344]

It was always fun for me to see ND lose, especially melt down. ND didn’t know what hit em. As they say…momentum must be a female…she is fickle and once you lose it you never get it back.

[@1notredamefightingirishfan12]

It was always fun for me to see ND winningest coach in both college and pro football, two movies, and great traditions

[@1notredamefightingirishfan12]

I have hated USC since 2020

[@FrankLPizza]

Why?

[@1notredamefightingirishfan12]

@@FrankLPizza that's when I became an Irish fan

[@1notredamefightingirishfan12]

@Will Muny we'll see

[@leighacker5291]

Dd1r