Fighting Irish Football

By: WONG WARREN21

Founded in 1887 the Notre Dame Football team is one of the most popular and well respected teams in the NCAA today. Notre Dame is the only team in US history to have won 8 wire (AP or Coaches) national championships, and is the leading Division I-A team in terms of championships won. No one could have imagined that after facing an 8-0 defeat in their first ever game in 1887 the team would rise to such great heights. Notre Dame has produced players like Bryant Young and Lance Legree of the San Francisco 49ers.

Popularly known as the Fighting Irish, the mascot of the Notre Dame Football team is a Leprechaun. Over a period of time the Fighting Irish have made a name for themselves, and are one of the most popular college football teams in the US. Second only to Michigan in terms of overall winning percentage (the Michigan Wolverines have a .745 compared to Notre Dame’s .744) the Fighting Irish are one of the most successful college football teams in US history. The history of college football is usually traced back by the coaches that have run the teams and the first notable coach of the Notre Dame Football team was Knute Rockne.

The influence of Knute Rockne on American Football as a whole is undeniable, not only is he one of the most successful coaches that the Fighting Irish have ever had, he is also one of the most notable sporting personalities of all time. Even a stamp commemorating the life of Knute Rockne was issued some years back. Knute was coach of the Fighting Irish from 1918-1930.

After Knute, the next praise worthy coach is Frank Leahy, Frank is one of the most successful college coaches in US football history, with a win percentage of .864 Leahy has the second highest win percentage for any college football coach till date. Under Leahy the team had a win record of 87 wins to 11 loses, and Leahy was coach of the Fighting Irish for 11 seasons. Leahy’s record would have been even more impressive had it not been for his absence from 1944 to 1945 when he was serving in the US Navy. Leahy was coach of the Fighting Irish for 11 years from 1941 to 1953.

Ara Parseghian has made a place for himself in the history of Notre Dame Football for lifting the “no bowl games” policy that the Fighting Irish followed, it was under Parseghian that the Fighting Irish won the McArthur bowl in 1964 and won two uncontested world championships. Many believe that Parseghian would have gone on to become the greatest college football coach ever had it not been for his untimely retirement in 1974 due to health reasons. Parseghian was coach for 7 years between 1966 and 1973. His record stands at an impressive 95-17-4 with a win percentage of .836, second only to Leahy.

Gerry Faust is perhaps the most popular football coaches ever, as a high school coach he was one of the most successful football coaches ever. Although his record with the Fighting Irish stands at a mediocre .535, Faust was responsible for leading the Notre Dame Football team to the Liberty Bowl and Aloha Bowl in the years 1983 and 1984 respectively. Faust has been lauded for his coaching capabilities, and was invited to speak to the team at the 2006 annual football awards banquet. Gerry Faust was the coach of the Fighting Irish for 4 years between 1981 and 1985. His overall win record stands at a mediocre 30–26–1. However as a coach there is no denying the impact he had on the Fighting Irish.

The future of the Notre Dame Football team is bright and every year the team is producing quality athletes that are becoming part of leading Football teams all over America. If you are interested in joining a forum or discussion group then you should visit Irishenvy a site dedicated to people who love the Fighting Irish.

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Warren Wong is a long time fan and the author of this article Fighting Irish. Join us at this Notre Dame Football here.

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