Fightin’ for the Cotton Bowl
For this week’s Throwback Thursday post, we take a trip down memory lane to revisit the storied matchup between Notre Dame and Louisiana State University in 1970. This game, filled with fierce competition and heightened emotions, was immortalized in the 1970 Notre Dame Football Review published in Scholastic Magazine. Set against the backdrop of a season filled with high stakes and fierce rivalries, the anticipation for this game was palpable. The narrative captures the essence of college football in that era, where every game was a battle, and the pride of universities hung in the balance. The excerpt below vividly captures the tension, excitement, and drama leading up to and during this iconic encounter, offering a glimpse into the rich history of these two legendary programs.
Louisiana State
Howard Cosell’s nasal New York accent pierced the silence of the dreary ride on the Toll Road from Chicago to South Bend.
“And tomorrow, the Fighting Irish of Notrah Daaam, undefeated, untied, will be looking to bring head coach Ahrya Pahrsiggian a big win over Coach Chahls MacLennon’s LSU Tigahs. The winnah of this one will certainly get the nod to face either Tex-as or Arkansaw in the Cottin Bowl.”
Yep, fightin’ for the Cotton Bowl. Last year the LSU student press unleashed a barrage of vindictiveness after the Dallas committee had turned down their beloved Tigers in place of the Irish for a spot against the Southwest Conference winner. “Texas is gonna roll all over Notre Dame” was the cry in Baton Rouge. But the Irish disappointed them and made a game out of it.
Now, in 1970, LSU’s Daily Reveille levelled charges against Notre Dame for “piling it up” against the Irish’s weaker opponents, calling Coach Parseghian the “prime example of a point-hungry, poll-conscious coach who’ll leave his first string in until the waning moments of the fourth quarter.” Their Sports Editor, Bill Delaune, Jr. ranked Notre Dame as tops on his list of “my most hated college football teams.” He went on to say that “if Notre Dame were playing Russia tomorrow, I’d be right out there waving the old hammer and sickle.”
Stuff like that makes one want to punch Mr. Bill Delaune, Jr. in the mouth, or other vulnerable sections of his anatomy. It also inspires any loyal Notre Dame fan to implore the Fighting Irish to go out and beat the tar out of the Bengal Tigers. But such was not to be the case today.
Oftentimes I had doubted the authenticity of “Southern Football.” After all, they hardly ever played out of their section; and, when they would condescend to grapple an eleven from the North or West, the game had to be staged on their home soil, amidst the frenzied wavings of Confederate flags and shouts of “Kill the Damn Yankees.” Yeah, they were smaller and supposedly the powerhouses of the North— where football. was played, not staged. So I thought; until a fair-to-middling Dixie squad had scared the daylights out of me the week before. But that was only a fluke; surely LSU’s “number one” rushing defense wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. But I was wrong; dead wrong.
An unbelieveably quick Tiger defense, led by the likes of tackles John Sage and Ronnie Estay (who between them accounted for 6 solo tackles and 11 assists) and defensive back Tommy Casanova (who aside from chipping in with four solo tackles of his own limited ND’s top end Tom Gatewood to 4 receptions and 21 yards) stifled the Irish ground attack to a mere 78 yards rushing and limited the powerhouse offense (an offense that had been averaging over 500 yards per-game) to less than half their usual production.
But the defensive glories weren’t all just Tiger achievements. Notre Dame’s defensive charge, facing its second big challenge in as many weeks, held the Tigers to a season low of 165 yards total offense. Time and again big Walt Patulski and his defensive end-mate, Bob Neidert, came up with the big rush or tackle that would force the Tigers into a punting situation.
In all, the game developed into what Coach Parseghian tagged “a most tremendous defensive performance by two of the finest college football teams in the country.”
Both teams were to have excellent scoring opportunities only twice during the course of a game that turned-into a duel of punters—Notre Dame’s Jim Yoder and LUS’s Wayne Dickinson. Before the afternoon was over, Yoder would have punted 10 times for a 43 yard average, while Dickinson was called upon twice more than Yoder, and averaging 5 yards less.
The Tigers had a chance for a quick score early in the first period when Tiger cornerback Jim Earley recovered a Denny Allan fumble after a Theismann completion on the ND 30. But Patulski and Neidert combined to drop the Bengals’ Buddy Lee for an eight yard loss and Dickinson was called upon for the first time in the afternoon.
Ralph Stepaniak set up the first Notre Dame scoring threat with an interception of a Buddy Lee pass at the ND 34 and a return to the midfield stripe. But Irish reserve back Darryll Dewan fumbled away the Irish’s scoring chances on the Tiger 3.
Then the punting units took over, as both teams logged more yardage shuffling specialty teams onto the field than would be netted all afternoon.
With 14:21 left to play in the game, a Theismann pass bounced out of the hands of Bill Barz into the arms of Bill Norsworthy, Tiger safety man, and the Bengals had the ball, and the momentum, at the ND 34.
The Tigers ran the ball inside the Irish defense to the ND 18, with tailback Art Cantrelle doing most of the legwork. But on third and four at the 18, Clarence Ellis broke through the LSU interference and stopped Cantrelle’s sweep short of the first down.
With the ball spotted at the ND 25, LSU’s Mark Lumpkin appeared to be destined for the Tigers’ “hero of the week” award, as he was well within his own field goal range. But again it was Neidert who came up with the big play, bursting through the LSU line and deflecting Lumpkin’s kick to the ground. That was LSU’s last opportunity; Notre Dame would still have one more.
It seemed as if it was poetic justice that a game that had seen so much punting should have been decided by the whimsy of a punted ball; instead of a sensational offensive play. When Jim Yoder’s punt from the LSU 44 trickled out of bounds on the one yard line it even seemed more justifiable that so great a defensive game be decided by the margin of a safety. “Imagine,” echoed someone in the press box, “Notre Dame 2, LSU 0.”
But the Tigers moved the ball way from that possible disgrace, and Dickinson lofted his eleventh punt of the afternoon to Clarence Ellis, who returned to the LSU 36, with just 4:57 left to play.
Now it was the Irish’s turn to be fired up. Defender Jim Earley climbed Ed Gulyas’ back at the LSU 17 and the Irish were in business with an interference penalty. Now the cry of Notre Dame fans across the country wasn’t “take it in,” but “don’t give up the football; for God’s sake don’t fumble.”
But before Scott Hempel was to rumble onto the sun-drenched field, quarterback Joe Theismann still had a heart-stopper left for the fans. On second and goal from the seven, Theismann rolled wide, found that Gatewood had beaten Casanova inside and was wide open, and promptly hit him with a beautiful bounce pass. Casanova may have been fooled once, but not a second time. But Theismann came with the same play, rushed his throw, and this time it was Casanova who was open. But he dropped it, and thus entered Scott Hempel.
“All I was thinking on the sidelines before I was called in was that ‘I just gotta make it’,” reflected Scott Hempel in the locker room. “I was a little worried about the wind, but when I kicked it I knew it was good.”
Notre Dame 3 – LSU 0
There was a festive atmosphere in the Irish locker room after the game. Everyone was in a good mood, and the comments reflected this. When asked what adjustments had been made at half-time, a beaming Coach Pagna facetiously answered: “Well, we gave our defense a pep talk; told ‘em to keep getting them. We gave our punter a pep talk, too.” Linebacker Jim Wright, although trying to hold a straight face, attempted to answer a query as to the performance of the LSU offensive line with “they’re like a bunch of quick, little Jap sumo wrestlers.” And everybody was giving punter Jim Yoder a hard time. As the press converged on him for a few statements, echoes of .”don’t bother with him fellas, he’s too modest; ya won’t get a thing out of him” spilled over from opposite rows of lockers.
Yep, mirth and merriment. Nine and oh and one to go. Only tackle Mike Kadish wore a frown. “Damn,” he said, “two weeks in a row of those quick little Southerners and another toughie next week. That game against Southern Cal ain’t gonna be too easy.”
If only you knew, Mike Kadish, just how tough it would be; if only you knew . . .
Reflecting on this remarkable game reminds us of the intense rivalries and memorable moments that define college football. The 1970 clash between Notre Dame and LSU is a testament to the passion, dedication, and sportsmanship that continues to fuel the sport today. As we honor the history of these two legendary teams, we also celebrate the enduring legacy of college football and the unforgettable memories it creates for fans and players alike.
Cheers & GO IRISH!