FULL GAME | Notre Dame Football vs Indiana (1991 – The Inaugural Notre Dame on NBC Broadcast)

Notre Dame and Indiana have kept up an intense rivalry since their first football game played in 1898. But while the two schools’ basketball teams compete every year, the football squads were strangers. After 33 years, the gridiron tradition continued and finally, the Irish faced the Hoosiers in an atmosphere they knew best-the gridiron.

On a sweltering 86-degree day, Notre Dame bolted onto the field knowing that on opening day, the team was being scrutinized. It was, after all, the first “Notre Dame Saturday” on NBC of 1991.

The game did not start out with the high-paced intensity Notre Dame fans are so familiar with.

Rodney Culver, senior captain of the Irish, drove his way up the middle for seven yards to start off the game. The second play of the drive ended with Culver being tackled for again of two yards. Despite a rush by sophomore fullback Jerome Bettis the Irish were forced to punt. The Hoosiers turned an impressive 61-yard punt by junior Craig Hentrich into a field goal with a 49-yard drive. Only 7:59 into the game and Notre Dame was down by three.

Once again the Irish tried to make some headway but were stopped by a high adrenaline-pumping Indiana team.

The Hoosiers took possession at their 46-yard line. Just when the Indiana fans were getting a little too cocky, Indiana quarterback Trent Green threw an pass intended for senior tight end Rod Coleman. DuBose anticipated the play and made the interception at the Indiana 49-yard line. He then proceeded to plow his way down the field. He evaded Green at the 20-yard line and received help from Eric Jones with a devastating block to a potential Indiana tackler, before dancing his way into the end zone.

“I just wanted to get out there and play today,” said DuBose. “The ball was there and my goal was just to make the play.”

The second quarter began with Indiana completing a 79-yard scoring drive. With the combination of Green and senior All American tailback Vaughn Dunbar, Indiana penetrated the Notre Dame defense. The touchdown put the Hoosiers back on top with a score of Hoosiers 10, Irish 7.

However, the Irish came back with an 80-yard drive which included an incredible connection for Mirer and Culver. Mirer ran right and at the last possible moment, pitched it to Culver on the option at the 20. Culver juggled the ball for several yards before charging 19 yards down the side for a touchdown, putting Notre Dame back on top, 14-10.

However, the tide turned once again and Indiana jumped into the lead 17-14. The Hoosiers scored again thanks to their two-man team of Green and Dunbar. With constant pounding on the defense, they were able to break through for a touchdown.

However, Rick Mirer ran in a 46-yard touchdown, and the Irish gained 7 more points to make the score 21-17. With the intensity – and perhaps Irish coach Lou Holtz’s blood pressure – beginning to boil, the Irish took control of the game.

Indiana’s Mark Hagen explained the difficulties the Hoosier defense encountered, “It was a combination of physical and mental mistakes. It was almost like a snowball effect. Once one thing went wrong, everything else seemed to go wrong.”

“I knew going in Notre Dame would be strong,” said Indiana coach Bill Mallory. “They came up with the key plays at the key times. We made costly mistakes when we should not have and you cannot do that and expect to beat a team like Notre Dame.”

An impressive play came at the end of the second quarter when the game was still close – Notre Dame 21, Indiana 17. The lrish had just scored. Mirer ran right on the option and succeeded in racing to a 46-yard touchdown. When it came time for Notre Dame to kick off, the Irish had a trick up their sleeve.

Notre Dame kicker, Craig Hentrich chipped an on-sides kick. As the shocked Hoosiers watched the ball bounce along the field, junior inside linebacker Brian Ratigan recovered at Indiana’s 41-yard line.

Another incredible play came at the perfect time in the third quarter when the score was 35-20. The Irish were at their own 42-yard line and Mirer launched a pass to Irv Smith who caught it at the 20-yard line and plowed his way into the end zone.

“I’ve never seen anything like it,” said Indiana’s linebacker Hagen. “It was a heck of an effort on his part.”

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