Cotton Bowl
1971
Notre Dame 24
Texas 11
Only coach Ara Parseghian and his players could say for sure, but if
revenge was a motive, then the Fighting Irish more than settled their
score with No. 1 Texas (video). Notre Dame
caused nine Texas fumbles, and All-America quarterback Joe Theismann
accounted for the first 18 of the Irish’s 24 points to end the
Longhorns’ winning streak at 30 (video).
Ironically, the longest winning streak in college football history also
died by the same sword more than 14 years earlier, when an equally
inspired Notre Dame team snapped Oklahoma’s 47-game unbeaten string with
a 7-0 upset.
This time, the Irish did it in the most touted bowl rematch ever after
Texas escaped with a 21-17 victory in the dying minutes of the 1970
Classic. Notre Dame blitzed across all three of its touchdowns in a span
of ten minutes during the first and second quarters, and then dug in to
make sure Texas never regained control. Both teams displayed their
offensive fireworks in the first half as the Irish built up a 24-11
advantage that held up until the final buzzer. Texas quarterback Eddie
Phillips, who would set a Classic total offense record with 363 yards
before the afternoon was over, put the Longhorns in motion early,
scampering 63 yards off the triple option before Ralph Stepaniak drug
him down at the Notre Dame 10. But, the Horns couldn’t take advantage of
Phillips’ long-gainer and called on Happy Feller to boot a 23-yard field
goal for an early 3-0 advantage.
The Texas lead was short-lived, however. Moving from their own 20, the
Irish quickly drove to their go-ahead touchdown. Theismann finished it
off with a 26-yard completion to his All-America receiver Tom Gatewood.
Notre Dame then came right back to score again following a Texas fumble
at the Horn 13. Theismann carried over from the three and the Irish led
14-3 at the end of the first quarter.
Notre Dame soon expanded its advantage to 21-3 in the opening minutes
of the second, and Theismann again was the one responsible for the
score, keeping for the final 15 yards. Texas put together one last
sustained drive, as Phillips began operations at the Longhorn 16. It was
a typical Texas-style march, totaling 18 plays and seven minutes. Of
those 84 yards, Phillips ran or passed for 72 of them.
Halfback Jim Bertelsen carried for the final two and Danny Lester
added the two-point conversion to make it 21-11. Just before the half
ended, Notre Dame returned to the scoreboard for the last time when
Scott Hempel booted a 36-yard field goal.
The final 30 minutes went scoreless, but Notre Dame had this game on ice long before the half. Coach Ara Parseghian had found a cure for the powerful Texas triple option.
Notre Dame's defense ruled the day
Larry Parker carries for Notre Dame
Attendance- 72,000
Scoring Summary
First Quarter
UT- FG Feller 23
ND- Gatewood 26 pass from Theismann (Hempel kick)
ND- Theismann 3 run (Hempel kick)
Second Quarter:
ND- Theismann 15 run (Hempel kick)
UT- Bertelsen 2 run (Lester pass from Phillips)
ND- FG Hempel 36
Individual Statistics
Rushing
ND- Cieszkowski 13-52, Parker 13-48,Gulyas 9-24, Theismann 18-22
UT- Phillips 23-164, Worster 16-42
Passing
ND- Theismann 9-16-176
UT- Phillips 9-17-199
Receiving
ND- Yoder 2-96, Gatewood 2-43, Ellis 1-37, Parker 2-7, Creaney 1-19,
Cieszkowski 2-11
UT- Comer 4-67, Bertelsen 3-85, Lester 2-17, Dale 1-41
