SOUTH BEND – Who knew?
Nobody saw that kind of season coming in 1988 from the Notre Dame football team. In two previous years under head coach Lou Holtz, the Irish finished a combined 13-10. It spent one week ranked in the Top 25 in 1986. It spent one week ranked in the Top Five in 1987. That’s it. The 1987 season ended with three straight losses. Not exactly the look or feel or potential of a team that could/would/should go undefeated the following fall and win it all.
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Little did we know. Little did anyone know that 1988 was one of those years. One of those that we haven’t seen since. Thirty-seven Irish seasons and counting since perfection. Since the last national championship.
Here is a game-by-game review of the 1988 Notre Dame football season that culminated in the school’s 11th and most recent national championship under the late Lou Holtz, who died on March 4 at age 89.
Michigan running back Tony Boles (42) is tackled by Notre Dame linebackers Mike Stonebreaker (top) and Wes Pritchett. ND Football 1988 South Bend Tribune archive photo South Bend Tribune archive, South Bend Tribune
1. No. 13 Notre Dame 19, No. 9 Michigan 17
Notre Dame Stadium (59,075)
September 10
A home night game to start the season? Check. One of your biggest rivals on the other sideline? Check. Go four quarters without scoring an offensive touchdown, but still win? Uh, check.
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That wasn’t how Notre Dame drew it up, but it worked. Four field goals from Reggie Ho, a 5-foot-5, 135-pound walk-on who came from nowhere to steal the national spotlight. Ho’s 26-yard field goal with 1:13 left gave the Irish the 19-17 lead in a game…
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