Notre Dame-Michigan St.: Tying Isn’t Everything
Gerald Scott’s story on the Notre Dame-Michigan State tie in 1966 (Sept. 19) was well researched and caught much of the atmosphere of the game and its aftermath. After the game, sports fans were united against Ara Parseghian’s failure to attempt to win, to live up to the fighting image of Notre Dame and the ideals of sports in general.
Parseghian was 20 years ahead of his time: Behavior like his is commonplace today. The end justifies the means; ratings and money outweigh everything else.
In 1966, ideals still existed. Sports fans felt betrayed by a less than total effort to win. Which is why Parseghian was so excoriated then, and why the game and its implications are still not forgotten today.
BERYL SHAPIRO
Los Angeles
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