Ethan Walker
The Catholics vs. Convicts game, played between Notre Dame and Miami on October 15, 1988, is considered one of the greatest college football games of all time. The game, officially known as the 1988 Notre Dame vs. Miami football game, was a highly anticipated matchup between two undefeated teams. Notre Dame won the closely contested game 31-30, thanks to a batted-down pass by Irish defender Pat Terrell in the final seconds. The game was notable for its intense emotions, pre-game brawls, and dramatic plays, symbolizing the fierce rivalry between the two schools. The phrase Catholics vs. Convicts originated from a T-shirt slogan created by Notre Dame students, playing on the university's Catholic image and Miami's roster of flamboyant players, some of whom had been arrested.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | October 15, 1988 |
| Teams | Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs Miami Hurricanes |
| Score | 31-30 to Notre Dame |
| Winner | Notre Dame |
| Venue | Notre Dame Stadium, Indiana |
| T-shirt slogan | Catholics vs Convicts |
| T-shirt creators | Joe Frederick, Michael Caponigro, and Pat Walsh |
| T-shirt inspiration | Notre Dame's Catholic image and Miami's players' reputations |
| Miami ranking | No. 1 |
| Notre Dame ranking | No. 4 |
| Miami coach | Jimmy Johnson |
| Notre Dame coach | Lou Holtz |
| Miami quarterback | Steve Walsh |
| Notre Dame quarterback | Tony Rice |
| Miami players | Cleveland Gary, Andre Brown, Leonard Conley |
| Notre Dame players | Pat Terrell, Braxston Banks, Chris Zorich |
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What You'll Learn
The game was played between the Miami Hurricanes and Notre Dame Fighting Irish
The game known as "Catholics vs. Convicts" was played between the Miami Hurricanes and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on October 15, 1988, at Notre Dame Stadium in Indiana. The highly anticipated matchup featured two undefeated teams and was characterised by intense emotions and pre-game brawls, with a history of rivalry between the two schools.
The Miami Hurricanes were the top-ranked team in the nation, having won 36 consecutive regular-season games and 20 straight road contests. They were led by head coach Jimmy Johnson, who was seeking a second consecutive national championship. The Hurricanes' offensive firepower was delivered by quarterback Steve Walsh, running back Cleveland Gary, and wide receiver Andre Brown.
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish, on the other hand, boasted a strong defence, with players such as Chris Zorich, Frank Stams, and Michael Stonebreaker standing out. Their quarterback, Tony Rice, was in his second season as a starter and was flourishing, while head coach Lou Holtz was determined to turn the tide against Miami, who had humiliated the Fighting Irish in previous encounters.
The game itself was closely contested, with both teams trading scores. Miami faced a critical fourth-and-7 from deep in Irish territory late in the fourth quarter, but a controversial fumble by Cleveland Gary gave possession back to Notre Dame. With 45 seconds remaining, Miami scored a touchdown to pull within one point of Notre Dame, 31-30. Rather than settle for a tie, Miami attempted a two-point conversion, but Steve Walsh's pass was batted down by Notre Dame defender Pat Terrell, securing the Fighting Irish's 31-30 victory.
The game, voted the "Greatest Victory in Notre Dame Stadium history", was immortalised in the ESPN documentary "Catholics vs. Convicts", which explored the storylines, rivalries, and controversies surrounding the memorable matchup.
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The Notre Dame team were undefeated
The game was a closely contested one, with Notre Dame finally breaking through and putting together a 75-yard, six-minute drive that ended with a touchdown. Miami quickly tied the game, but Notre Dame responded with an 11-play, five-minute drive that ended with a Rice touchdown to Braxston Banks, doubling their advantage when Pat Terrell's 60-yard pick-six made it 21-7 in favour of the Irish. In the final 5:42 before halftime, the Hurricanes roared back to knot the score, tallying the first score on a 23-yard touchdown pass. After Notre Dame was quickly stopped, Walsh needed less than a minute to notch another touchdown, connecting with Gary on a 15-yard score with 21 seconds to go before the break.
With Miami trailing 31-24 and facing a critical fourth-and-7 from deep in Irish territory midway through the fourth quarter, Walsh connected with Miami running back Cleveland Gary, who caught the football, turned, was tackled and fumbled the ball at the one-yard line. The referees ruled the play as a fumble and Notre Dame took possession at the 2-yard line where the ball was recovered. Near the end of the game, Miami scored a touchdown with 45 seconds remaining, pulling within one point of the Fighting Irish, 31-30. Rather than kick the extra point and likely end the game in a tie, Miami head coach Jimmy Johnson decided to attempt a two-point conversion, reasoning that "We always play to win." However, Hurricanes quarterback Steve Walsh's pass was batted down by Fighting Irish defender Pat Terrell, and Notre Dame won the game.
The game, which was voted the Greatest Victory in Notre Dame Stadium history in a 2005 poll, was featured in the ESPN 30 for 30 documentary Catholics vs. Convicts, directed by Patrick Creadon, who was a senior at Notre Dame when the game took place.
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The game was closely contested
The 1988 college football game between the Miami Hurricanes and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, colloquially known as the "Catholics vs. Convicts" game, was a closely contested match. The game, played on October 15, 1988, at Notre Dame Stadium, saw the undefeated Miami Hurricanes face off against the equally undefeated Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
The game was highly anticipated, with both teams having strong seasons leading up to the matchup. Miami, ranked No. 1 in the nation, entered the game with a 36-game regular-season winning streak and had won their previous 20 road contests. Meanwhile, Notre Dame, ranked No. 4, had a strong defence that season, with players like Chris Zorich, Frank Stams, and Michael Stonebreaker standing out.
The game itself did not disappoint, with lead changes and dramatic plays throughout. Miami fumbled on their opening series, and neither team gained much ground in the first quarter. However, Notre Dame eventually broke through with a 75-yard drive, taking the lead. Miami quickly tied the game, but Notre Dame responded with a five-minute drive that ended with a Rice touchdown, doubling their lead to 14-7. The Irish extended their lead to 21-7 with a 60-yard pick-six by Pat Terrell. Miami fought back in the final minutes of the first half, scoring two quick touchdowns to tie the game at 21-21 going into halftime.
The second half saw more back-and-forth action, with both teams trading scores. With Miami trailing 31-24 and facing a critical fourth-and-7 from deep in Irish territory, Walsh connected with Miami running back Cleveland Gary for a first down inside the Irish 5-yard line. Gary was tackled and fumbled the ball at the one-yard line, with Notre Dame recovering possession. This controversial call, known as Gary's "phantom fumble", would later be examined closely in the documentary "Catholics vs. Convicts."
In the final minute of the game, Miami scored a touchdown to pull within one point of Notre Dame, 31-30. Rather than kick the extra point to tie the game, Miami head coach Jimmy Johnson opted for a two-point conversion to win the game. However, Notre Dame defender Pat Terrell batted down the pass, securing the victory for the Fighting Irish, 31-30.
The game was a memorable one for both teams and their fans, with intense emotions and pre-game brawls adding to the drama. The rivalry between the two schools, symbolized by the "Catholics vs. Convicts" moniker, added fuel to the fire, making the game one of the most memorable in college football history.
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Miami's first regular-season loss since 1985
The 1988 college football game between the University of Notre Dame and the University of Miami, known colloquially as "Catholics vs. Convicts", resulted in Miami's first regular-season loss since 1985. The game, played on October 15, 1988, at Notre Dame Stadium, ended with a score of 31-30 in favour of Notre Dame. This ended Miami's 36-game regular-season winning streak and marked their first regular-season loss since September 7, 1985, against Florida.
The "Catholics vs. Convicts" moniker arose from a T-shirt slogan created by Notre Dame students, playing on the university's Catholic image and Miami's roster of flamboyant players, some of whom had been arrested. The rivalry between the two schools had been escalating throughout the 1980s, with Miami humiliating Notre Dame 58-7 in 1985 and again in 1987 with a score of 24-0.
The game was not only significant for ending Miami's impressive winning streak but also for its intense emotions, pre-game brawls, and dramatic plays, encapsulating the fierce rivalry between the two schools. The rivalry culminated in this showdown, which has been immortalized in the ESPN 30 for 30 documentary "Catholics vs. Convicts," directed by Patrick Creadon, a former Notre Dame student.
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The game was voted the Greatest Victory in Notre Dame Stadium history
The 1988 college football game between the Miami Hurricanes and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish is known colloquially as the "Catholics vs. Convicts" game. The game was played at Notre Dame Stadium in Indiana on October 15, 1988, and resulted in a 31-30 victory for Notre Dame. The game was voted the "Greatest Victory in Notre Dame Stadium history" in a 2005 poll conducted by the University of Notre Dame.
The nickname "Catholics vs. Convicts" originated from a T-shirt slogan created by Notre Dame students Joe Frederick, Michael Caponigro, and Pat Walsh, playing on Notre Dame's Catholic image and Miami's roster of flamboyant football players. The game was highly anticipated, with both teams entering the matchup undefeated. Miami was the top-ranked team in the nation with a 4-0 record and a 36-game regular-season winning streak, while Notre Dame was ranked fourth in the nation.
The game was characterised by intense emotions, pre-game brawls, and dramatic plays, reflecting the fierce rivalry between the two teams. Miami had humiliated Notre Dame in previous years, winning 58-7 in 1985 and 24-0 in 1987, adding fuel to the fire. The game itself was closely contested, with lead changes and critical plays throughout.
In the final moments of the game, Miami trailed 31-30 and attempted a two-point conversion to win the game. However, Notre Dame defender Pat Terrell batted down Miami quarterback Steve Walsh's pass, securing the victory for Notre Dame. This play was immortalised in the ESPN 30 for 30 documentary "Catholics vs. Convicts," which explored the storylines and controversies surrounding the game.
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Frequently asked questions
The University of Notre Dame won the game 31-30.
The game took place on October 15, 1988.
The game was significant because it was a showdown between two rival colleges, with Notre Dame's Catholic image and Miami's roster of flamboyant football players. The game was also notable for its intense emotions, pre-game brawls, and dramatic plays.
