Holy War (Boston College vs. Notre Dame)

The Holy War is a title used to describe the college football game between Boston College and Notre Dame. The series pits the "Eagles" against the "Fighting Irish" and derives its name from the fact that the two teams represent the only Catholic universities in the United States which compete in the NCAA's Division I-A, the highest level of competition in American college football.

History

Although football at both universities dates to the 19th century, the series itself is relatively young. Boston College and Notre Dame first met on the gridiron on September 15, 1975, in a game held at Foxboro Stadium in Massachusetts. Since then, the two schools have met a total of 17 times, including a match up in the 1983 Liberty Bowl. An annual series was held from 1992–2004 and after a two-season hiatus the rivalry has resumed for the 2007–2009 seasons. Its future beyond 2010 is in question, with University of Notre Dame officials claiming current contractual obligations prohibit the scheduling of future contests. Overall Notre Dame leads the series 9-8.

While the "Holy War" moniker dates to the first contest between the two schools in 1975 and has become popularized in the sports media, [cite journal |last=Armstrong |first=Kevin |date =October 24, 2007 |title=Flying under the radar |journal=Sports Illustrated |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/kevin_armstrong/10/24/boston.college/index.html |accessdate= 2008-04-13] [cite journal |last=Strow |first=Eric |date =April 7, 2007 |title=The Holiest Rivalry |journal=The Fanatic Magazine |url=http://www.thefanaticmagazine.com/Features_&_Columns/Features/The_%22Holiest%22_Rivalry/ |accessdate= 2008-04-13] [cite web |url=http://cbs.sportsline.com/login?xurl=/nfl/story/7825520 |title=CBS Sportsline |accessdate=2008-04-13 |format=HTML |publisher=CBS] [cite web |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/college/news/1998/11/03/week11_previews/ |title=The week ahead: First place on the line in the Big Ten, ACC |accessdate=2008-04-13 |date=November 7, 1998 |publisher=CNN.SI] [cite web |url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/USAToday/offers.html?url=%2FUSAToday%2Faccess%2F56239298.html%3FFMT%3DFT%26FMTS%3DFT%26date%3DNov%2B9%252C%2B1992%26author%3DMichael%2BHiestand%26pub%3DUSA%2BTODAY%2B(pre-1997%2BFulltext)%26desc%3DTrumpy%252C%2BEnberg%2Bmake%2Bgame%2Bworth%2Bwatching) |title=Games Worth Watching |author=Michael Hiestand |date=November 2, 1992 |accessdate=2008-04-13 |format=HTML |publisher=USA Today] [cite web |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/index.html |title=Daily News Sports |accessdate=2008-04-13 |format=HTML |publisher=New York Daily News] the rivalry has also acquired a number of other nicknames over the years. These include the "Vatican Bowl," the "Frank Leahy Memorial Bowl" and the "Jesuit Invitational." Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, a Notre Dame alumna, referenced the rivalry using the "Holy War" moniker during her 2006 commencement address at BC's Alumni Stadium. [ [http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2006/66630.htm Commencement Address at Boston College ] ]

Results

Notable moments

*1993 - A week after Notre Dame's "Game Of The Century" win over then #1 ranked Florida State, BC dominated for three quarters then fell behind after ND scored three touchdowns in 11 minutes. In the end, BC won on a last second field goal to knock the Irish out of the #1 ranking, a 41-39 loss that would keep ND from winning the national championship.

*1998 - Deke Cooper's tackle on Mike Cloud at the one yard line completed a dramatic goal line stand in the game's closing moments and preserved a 31-26 victory for Notre Dame in Chestnut Hill. Despite a first and goal from the four yard line, Boston College was unable to score in four plays.

*2002 - BC's 14-7 win in South Bend, Indiana over the previously 8-0 Irish is the first loss for then head coach Tyrone Willingham. The Chicago Tribune later reported that, in the postgame celebration, Boston College players vandalized the visitors locker room in Notre Dame Stadium. Boston College later paid Notre Dame an undisclosed amount for the vandalism done.

*2007 - BC's 27-14 win not only marked the first 7-0 record for the Eagles since 1942, but also marked the first time either team won five consecutive games in the match up between these teams.

Trophies

The Frank Leahy Memorial Bowl is a trophy, in the form of a large cut-crystal bowl, given to the winner of the Boston College-Notre Dame football game. It is named after the legendary Frank Leahy, who was the head coach at both schools. The award is presented to the winning team at the conclusion of the game by members of the Notre Dame Club of Boston.

The Ireland Trophy, created by the Notre Dame student government in 1995, is presented annually "as a token of goodwill, camaraderie and friendly rivalry" to the winner of the game. Although the two teams have met 16 times since 1975, the trophy has been awarded only 11 times, 5 times to Notre Dame, and 6 to Boston College.

Future meetings in question

On November 2, 2005, Notre Dame announced that because it had agreed to a request from the Big East to play teams from that conference each season, it would suspend the Boston College series following the 2010 season. Big East Commissioner Mike Tranghese said the conference made the request after Boston College, Miami, and Virginia Tech withdrew from the Big East to join the Atlantic Coast Conference. However, on Feb 6th 2007, BC Director of Athletics Gene DeFilippo stated “The Notre Dame contract calls for two games in South Bend, in 2007 and 2009, and two games in Boston, in 2008 and 2010. We have been in discussions with Notre Dame concerning additional games, and I am very hopeful that we will be able to announce something in the near future.”

2008 NCAA Men's Ice Hockey Championship

Although Boston College and Notre Dame are not traditionally hockey rivals, the "Holy War" moniker was used during media coverage of the Frozen Four final between Boston College and Notre Dame in the 2008 NCAA Men's Ice Hockey Championship. (BC won, capturing the 2008 national championship.) [cite journal |last=Connolly |first=John |date =April 12, 2008 |title=BC’s third time around: Eagles’ recent final berths offer edge on ND |journal=The Boston Herald |url=http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/college/hockey/view.bg?articleid=1086656&srvc=rss |accessdate= 2008-04-13] [cite journal |last=Sampson |first=Pete |date =April 11, 2008 |title=Old rivalry gets fresh look |journal=Irish Illustrated |url=http://www.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=796496 |accessdate= 2008-04-13] [cite journal |last=Amstutz|first=David |date =April 14, 2008 |title=Holy War Heavyweights |journal=The Heights |url=http://media.www.bcheights.com/media/storage/paper144/news/2008/04/14/Sports/Holy-War.Heavyweights-3320804.shtml |accessdate= 2008-04-16]

ee also

*Boston College Eagles football
*College football
*College rivalry
*Notre Dame Fighting Irish football

References