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Liberty Bowl 1983
Notre Dame 19 Boston College 18
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"This is a great start for 1984," beamed Faust, minutes after Thursday night's 19-18 victory in the 25th annual game. "We played a great football team tonight and I'm very proud we could come away with a victory. It was a team effort. This is the beginning of something great."
The Irish utilized the talents of sophomore All-American Allen Pinkett, who rushed for 111 yards and two touchdowns, and junior Chris Smith, who added 104 rushing yards, to serve notice that 1984 could be their year.
"I feel really great with this victory," said Irish senior quarterback Blair Kiel, who hit on 11 of 19 passes for 151 yards, including a 14-yard scoring toss to flanker Alvin Miller. With Pinkett and Miller featured in slashing runs, Notre Dame controlled the ball throughout the contest but still had to survive a late fourth-quarter threat before finishing its season with a 7-5 record.
Boston College quarterback Doug Flutie completed 16 of 37 passes for 287 yards and three touchdowns despite temperatures hovering around 10 degrees and a wind chill factor of zero to capture the game's MVP award and almost lead the 9-3 Eagles to victory.
Boston College cut the Notre Dame lead to one point, 19-18, midway through the third quarter with a 3-yard scoring pass from Flutie to tight end Scott Gieselman and Eagles' coach Jack Bicknell opted to go for the 2-point conversion after seeing place-kicker Brian Waldron slip on the frozen turf on his only extra point attempt.
But Flutie's PAT pass intended for Gieselman was broken up by Notre Dame linebacker Tony Furjanic (video) and the Irish kept the Eagles out of scoring position the remainder of the game. BC failed also failed on a PAT pass following a 28-yard scoring toss from Flutie to flanker Gerard Phelan in the second quarter (video).
"We didn't think we could make the kick at that point," Bicknell explained later. BC blocked two Notre Dame placements.
The Irish fell behind 6-0 early in the first quarter on a 17 yard Flutie touchdown pass to Brian Brennan (video), but roared back to take a 19-6 lead as Pinkett scored on runs of one and three yards (video) and Kiel hit Miller with his scoring pass (video).
The Eagles trailed 19-12 at the half after Flutie hit Phelan with 7:02 left in the second quarter.
"I'm happy with this win, especially for the seniors. They deserved to go out in style," said Pinkett, a sophomore voted Notre Dame's most valuable offensive player.
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Chris Smith carries for Notre Dame. |
Allen Pinkett had 111 yards. |
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Blair Kiel led the Irish. He threw for 151 yards. |
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Steve D’Ossie flies to the tackle. |
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Flutie passes under pressure |
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Faust got a bowl victory for the faithful |
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Attendance- 38,229
Scoring Summary
First Quarter BC- Brennan 17 yard pass from Flutie (kick failed) ND- Pinkett 1 run (Johnston kick)
Second Quater ND- Miller 14 yard pass from Kiel (kick blocked) ND- Pinkett 3 run (kick blocked) BC- Phelan 28 yard pass from Flutie (pass failed)
Third Quarter BC- Gieselman 3 yard pass from Flutie (pass failed)
Individual Statistics
Rushing ND- Pinkett 78-111, Smith 18-104, Brooks 2-24 BC- Stradford 14-51, Flutie 5-32
Passing ND- Kiel 11-19-151 BC- Flutie 16-37-287, Brennan 0-1-14
Receiving ND- Bavaro 5-52, Miller 3-31 BC- Brennan 4-91, Phelan 4-52, Gieselman 3-19, Stradford 2-17
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The New Year is still two days away, but
Notre Dame Coach Gerry Faust figures he already has a good start on 1984
after watching his Fighting Irish upend 13th ranked Boston
College 19-18 in the Liberty Bowl.
