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1953 and 1955
NOTRE DAME
vs
Oklahoma and North Carolina
Football fans will enjoy watching two classic Notre Dame games from the 1950's on this new video from "Rare Sportsfilms"! Both original B & W films, narrated by Tom Harmon and Gene Kelly, are on this new 52-minute video!
In 1953 Notre Dame went undefeated (one tie) and finished runner-up to Maryland for the National Championship. Oklahoma finished #4, but beat Maryland in the Orange Bowl on New Year's Day, 1954. This season opener for both teams played Sept. 26 at Norman was one of the most eagerly awaited games of the season! Legendary coaches Bud Wilkinson and Frank Leahy are squaring off, and nice close-up pre-game shots show them and players Max Boydston and All-American J.D. Roberts of Oklahoma and Neil Worden and All-American Johnny Lattner of the Irish.
A fumble recovery by Oklahoma deep in Notre Dame territory leads to the first score of the game. On 4th down from the ND one, Sooner QB Buddy Leake pitches out to HB Larry Grigg, who scores to make it 7-0 Oklahoma. However it's not long before the Irish are poised to score at the Sooner seven. On 4th and 5, Notre Dame QB Ralph Guglielmi tosses a TD pass to Joe Heap and the Irish tie the score 7-7. In the second quarter Oklahoma bounces back, and with second and goal at the ND 5, Leake hands off to Jack Ging who scores, giving the Sooners a 14-7 advantage. Then Captain Don Penza of Notre Dame blocks a Sooner quick kick and the Irish recover the ball at the Oklahoma nine! On 4th and goal from the two, Guglielmi runs the ball over the goal line to tie the game 14-14. At halftime you'll get a look at the Oklahoma campus as it looked half a century ago, as the library, Business Administration Building, Fine Arts Building, and Law Building are all shown. In the third quarter, QB Guglielmi throws another TD pass to Joe Heap and now Notre Dame leads, 21-14. Penza then recovers an Oklahoma fumble on the Sooner 38 to set up ND's final score. On first and goal, Neil Worden carries for the touchdown to give Notre Dame a 28-14 lead near the end of the third quarter. In the 4th quarter, Johnny Lattner punts, but Merrill Green fields it and weaves his way 60 yards for the final score of the game, as Notre Dame comes from behind twice and hangs on to win 28-21! This loss to Notre Dame on its home field is Oklahoma's first since October, 1947 and snaps a 25-game home win streak. However, this would be the last game Oklahoma would lose for some four years (until Notre Dame again beat them in 1957!) Throughout the game you'll see many other players on both squads: Dick Bowman (fumble recovery), Virgil Bolinger, Carl Allison, Wray Littlejohn, Kurt Burris, Doc Hearon, Gene Calame, Milt Simmons, and Don Brown, all for Oklahoma. For Notre Dame, Jim Schrader, Art Hunter, Dan Shannon, Menil Mavraides, Jack Lee, Tom McHugh, Sam Palumbo, George Wilson and many others are all shown in action!
Two years later the Irish travel to Kenan Stadium at Chapel Hill to face coach George Barclay's Tar Heels with "Choo-Choo" Charlie Justice on hand to pull for his alma mater. Terry Brennan is now head coach at Notre Dame. When Jim Morse scores from a yard out to cap Notre Dame's opening drive, the Irish lead 7-0. But in the second quarter Carolina's QB Buddy Sasser throws a jump pass to Charles Robinson on third and goal from the seven, and North Carolina ties the score just before the half. In the third quarter, Notre Dame's junior QB Paul Hornung scores his 4th TD of the year on a roll out from the four, and Notre Dame takes the lead again, 14-7. On the next series, Joe Bosse recovers a Tar Heel fumble at the Carolina 28. After two nice carries by Bob Ward, sophomore Dick Lynch scores his first collegiate touchdown and Notre Dame now leads 21-7. The game is much closer than the final score would indicate, however, Lou Loncaric's 4th quarter 76-yard interception return for a TD seals the game for Notre Dame, 27-7. Other Notre Dame players shown in action include Don Schaefer, Jim Mense, team captain Ray Lemek, Dean Studer, Dick Prendergast, George Nicula, Dick Fitzgerald, Larry Cooke, Pat Bisceglia, John McMullan, Ed Sullivan, Gene Hedrick, George Groble, John McDonnell and Bob Scannell. Shown for Carolina are co-captains Will Frye and Roland Perdue, HB Ken Keller, Don Lear, Eddie Sutton, Jack Maultsby, Buddy Payne, George Stavnitski, Bill Koman, Darden Livesay, Joe Temple, Howie Williams, Wally Vale, Jim Jones, Hap Setzer, Giles Gaca, Dave Reed and Larry Muschamp.
You can get both of these vintage Notre Dame games now on video for only $29.95 plus $5.00 for shipping and handling. (Illinois residents must add $2.00 tax.)
"RARE SPORTSFILMS N",
1126 Tennyson Lane,
Naperville, IL 60540
(630) 527-8890
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