Notre Dame football: 5 best seasons in Fighting Irish history

Notre Dame football wins the 1966 national championship.

By the time Ara Parseghian got to South Bend in 1964, the Golden Dome had lost some of its luster. Interim head coach Hugh Devore finished 1963 2-7 after Joe Joe Kuharich had back-to-back 5-5 seasons in 1961 and 1962.

One thing that Parseghian did to turn around the culture at Notre Dame is getting the best out of his players. He reinstilled confidence in his players and found different ways to get the most out of the talent he inherited.

The turnaround under Parseghian was quick. They went 9-1 in 1964 and they were off to the races. The 1966 season featured the hotly contested battle with Michigan State dubbed as the “Game of the Century.”

Parseghian was criticized for not trying to score despite having the ball late in the game. He argued most of his starters were knocked out of the game due to injury and did not want to risk a turnover late in the game.

That 1966 squad featured some of the legendary names in Notre Dame lore. They were led by quarterback Terry Hanratty. Larry Conjar was their leading rusher, but one of the young running backs on that team was Rocky Bleier.

The defense that finished second in point allowed featured end Alan Page who would go on to be one of the famous “Purple People Eaters” of the Minnesota Vikings during the 1970s. This was the first National Title since the Leahy era and restored the shine to the Golden Dome.