The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1960-11-11
of TIMES
Rough Year
For ~. ID. Fans
By LOU EABRO
Times Sports Editor

Trailing 1910 after three quarters, unbeaten
Notre Dame exploded for three fourth period touch
downs two in the last three minutes to upset a favor
ed and undefeated Ohio State team 1918.
This oft-recalled classic was played In Ohio
Stadium in 1885 when Coach Elmer Layden, one OF
Knute Rockne's famous -Four Horsemen" OF 1924,
was at the Irish controls.
Since this is the silver anniversary year OF that
thrilling struggle, it's an appropriate occasion tor
Notre Dame football fans to recall that game with
warm satisfaction. Making it all the more appropriate
is the fact the current season is a rough one for irish
fans.
TO U~NDERScoRE WHAT we mean, next week
Notre Dame will have its fourth shot for a 1860
victory over a Big Ten team. Chances for an irish
victory are slim for their opponents are the explosive
Iowa HaWkeyeS.
Three Big Ten teams - Purdue, Michigan State
and Northwestern - already have subdued the In
iury-riddled Irish this season. Purdue ran wild in a
51-19 romp; Michigan State BANKED Notre Dame 2l-O;
and Northwestern squeezed by with a TO win.
AS a f~ootnote. Michigan States victory was it fifth
in a row over the Irish. 1t was the first time in Y years
of Notre Dame football that the same coach defeated
the Irish five successive times.
HI northwestern score was
close, Notre Dame didn't manage a first down until
well into the third quarter. This really tested the
loyalty Of Irish fans. Later, however, there was some
grumbling when Notre Dame played it safe" by at
tempting a tying one-point conversion instead OF seek
ing a possible winning tWo-polnter.
What has happened to a Notre Dame team which
was rated among the top 20 IN the country In early
polls?
Probably the best answer is that the rating ex-
perts turned a deaf ear to Irish Coach Joe Kuharlch
when he declared "We're at least a year away" Or
when he advised Irish fans turn to your scrapbooks,
men-and enjoy the glorieS Of yesteryear." But per-
haps the football writer's were encouraged when
Kuharich labeled the season a question mark. Inc
scribes should have been more cautious.
His latter remark was made for several reasons,
one of which is that he didn't have an experienced
quarterback. Another reason is that there was some
doubt about the performance of five key players -
four of them backs = due to serious knee operations.
KUHARlCH'S WORST FEAR was realized when
halfback Bill Red Mack, billed for ll-Amerlc
honors, was knocked out of commission at the outset
of the season.
Finally, the 1860 team lacked overall experience.
There are 10 lettermen from the 1859 (5-5 record)
squad, but only four are seniors. The squad also IN
cludes "a sophomores.
This all, leads into Kuharichs timetable that
Notre Dame is at least a year away. IL could pe
longer.
But this brings up another question VIII ku-
harich be around? Rumors have been cropping up tnat
he'll leave to return to the pro ranks The was head
coach of the professional Washington Redskins when
he succeeded Terry Brennan In December, 1909. III
fact, some say he'll 60 with the Detroit Lions.
HOWEVER, JOE HAS two years remaining In his
four-year Notre Dame contract which oftentlmes means
nothing in the coaching ranks.
Although things look confusing and gloomy at
South Bend, it could be only that the irish are gong
through a painful transition period.
In following Joe's s%crapbook advice, we nollced
that a member of that famous 1885 Notre Dame team
was Joe Kuharich.