By Dennis Dodd
CBS SportsLine Senior Writer
Sept. 5, 1998
SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Enough was enough for that mysterious force some people think watches over Notre Dame.
It would be ludicrous
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Whatever the Irish faithful did -- cross fingers, wear the lucky green or pray to Touchdown Jesus -- it worked. It worked so well that the upset of the defending national co-champions had a dual purpose at sold-out Notre Dame Stadium. Flushed were both the hated Wolverines and the infamous summer of discontent.
"That's the way college football is supposed to be and the way life should be," said Notre Dame linebacker Grant Irons after fighting his way through a delirious postgame celebration. "I think God was looking down from up above and taking care of us."
THE TURNAROUND COULD NOT HAVE BEEN quicker if Joe Moore suddenly let bygones be bygones. The Irish were better suited for a griddle at halftime, trailing 13-6. Michigan had run 54 plays in a sun so direct a forced march underneath a magnifying glass would have been a relief.
Then the most famous mosaic in college football winked. The mojo that was Michigan's in the first half was no mo'. In summary, Notre Dame scored an amazing 30 unanswered second-half points -- 17 of those in the first 10 minutes -- to make a mockery of a showdown. In reality, it was the most points scored against Michigan's stout defense since 1991. In theology, it was the stuff of faith.
"I've never felt it (like this) here," said Mike Rosenthal, Notre Dame's preseason All-America offensive tackle. "You can't put a finger on it. You can't say what it is. The feeling that we had is something I've never felt at Notre Dame. The student body, the fans were alive the whole game, 60 minutes. When they rushed the field at the end it was as much a victory for them as it was for us."
More than dust cleared after No. 22 Notre Dame laid a 30-7 number on the Wolverines in the second half. The cobwebs that formed over the summer with the Moore trial and the NCAA investigation over improper benefits were swept from the minds of Irish supporters. At the end, Notre Dame Stadium was a living, breathing entity in bum-rushing the field.
"We talked before the game that I don't want any negative thoughts or one negative
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In his first start, quarterback Jarious Jackson helped give Notre Dame coach Bob Davie the biggest victory of his career. (AP)
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It was more divine than Davie. Michigan did its part by fumbling four times (losing two), missing four field goals and dropping a touchdown pass. Quarterback Tom Brady debuted as a starter by throwing for 267 yards but was outdone by Notre Dame first-time starter Jarious Jackson who threw for only 96 yards but two touchdowns.
"IT IS JUST A SHAME that we played our hearts out there today and we still lost," Brady said. "A loss like this just tears our hearts out."
The 36 points were the most by the Irish in the 28-game series. After allowing only 89 yards per game last season, Michigan was pummeled for 280. Autry Denson's career-high 162 rushing yards were aided by a 58-yard dash on Notre Dame's first snap. Omen? Michigan had not given up a play that long since 1996.
The heck with the NCAA and the court system, Notre Dame was good again if only for a week.
"It means that we can compete against anyone in the country," Jackson said. "You never know who is going to win the national championship this year. It could be us."
While you're at it, scratch one contender for the Fiesta Bowl. What was supposed to be a kickoff to another championship season for Michigan, ended before Labor Day. If you don't think this one huge loss keeps the Wolverines out of the ultimate game, check your Bowl Championship Series slide rule.
"We have a long way to go and a lot of corrections to make," said a suddenly haggard-looking Lloyd Carr, Michigan's coach.
THE OTHER-WORLDLY STUFF seems to be a permanent part of the Notre Dame playbook. Michigan's Clarence Williams ran an innocuous kickoff up the middle after Notre Dame cut the lead to 13-9. Brock Williams, a backup cornerback who had played 2 1/2 minutes in his career, stuck his nose in and forced the fumble that led to the go-ahead touchdown.
The lead was Notre Dame's for good with Jackson's pass to junior tight end Dan O'Leary. Note the last name because this is what happens to guys named O'Leary at Notre Dame. They are buried so deep on the depth chart as a freshman that they don't play. Guys named O'Leary at Notre Dame then get a couple of token starts as a sophomore.
It figures, then, that Michigan left him so wide open that O'Leary could have run for another 50 yards in catching his first career touchdown pass. Suddenly, Notre Dame had the lead, 16-13, and some real distance between itself and the summer.
Three plays later the momentum shifted underneath Michigan's feet. All-Big Ten center Steve Hutchinson limped off. Who noticed? No one until Michigan fullback Ray Jackson ran behind backup center Steve Frazier, was bounced outside and fumbled after being hit by Notre Dame's Benny Guilbeaux.
That's not the best part for the Irish. On the first play after the fumble, Jarious Jackson sprinted back to pass from Michigan's 35. He tripped on his own feet but through some act of God -- OK, we said it -- he stayed upright. That allowed him to whip a touchdown pass to a wide-open Raki Nelson.
IT WAS 23-13 AND NOT A CREATURE WAS STIRRING on the Michigan sideline. It happened, in part, because Jackson was able to become a threat running the option in the second half. After being stopped for one yard rushing in the first half, Jackson busted out for 72 yards on 15 carries in the second half. Michigan had to respect his running ability even if it didn't respect the Irish who hadn't beaten it since 1993.
"I felt good at halftime because I had No. 7. I knew he would play better when he got his feet underneath him," Davie said with no pun intended.
Michigan fumbled three times in the fourth quarter of last year's meeting but hung on for a 21-14 victory and, ultimately, a national championship. This time they were burned directly from the sunlight reflecting off the Golden Dome.
"This is what you play college football for," Nelson said amid a constant din from fans that lasted 35 minutes after the final gun. "Last year we could have beaten them. This year it starts off our season on the right foot. We're 1-0 now. You never know, we could be national champions."
Dennis Dodd is a senior writer in CBS SportsLine's Kansas City bureau.