Stadium Flush With Celebration

L.A. Times Archives

Sept. 7, 1997 12 AM PT

Notre Dame Coach Bob Davie wasn’t the only one feeling the pressure on Saturday.

So was the plumbing system in Notre Dame Stadium, which had undergone a $50-million expansion that increased seating capacity to 80,225.

A water line burst shortly before halftime during the Fighting Irish’s 17-13 victory over Georgia Tech, flooding the stadium’s lower concourse. There was an inch of standing water in some places, and the carpet in Notre Dame’s training room and media interview room was sopped.

Wet vacuums were brought in, and construction crews used brooms to push off the excess water. There were still a few puddles left after the game.

John Heisler, Notre Dame’s director of sports information, said a valve that was supposed to be open was closed. As spectators used bathrooms, pressure in the water line built up and the pipe burst.

DO OR DIE

As if the beginning of a new coaching era and a capacity crowd in a renovated stadium weren’t enough, Notre Dame players also had more than 300 other reasons to defeat Georgia Tech.

That would be the number of former players that showed up in South Bend for the opener.

“This year’s team, and everyone from now on, has an obligation to live up to what was done before,” said Corny Southall, a free safety on the 1988 national championship team.

Though they struggled, this year’s players responded with a 17-13 victory, after which running back Autry Denson said, “On the sidelines, we made up our minds, death before defeat.”

HAVING FUN NOW?

Last season, en route to its first national championship, Florida led the nation in touchdown passes for the fourth year in a row and also finished No. 1 in scoring and second in total offense.

So, imagine Gator Coach Steve Spurrier’s mood when he perused the Southeastern Conference rankings earlier this week and saw his Fun ‘N’ Gun attack ranked a not-so-funny dead last in total offense at 357 yards a game.

“And that’s where we deserve to be,” Spurrier said coldly.

Not anymore.

On Saturday, Florida beat Central Michigan, 82-6. Doug Johnson tied a school record with seven touchdown passes and the Gators set a school mark with nine.

SECRET WEAPON

A few years ago, when it was setting up its 1997 schedule, Army probably thought it wise to play Marshall at West Point, N.Y., in the 1,000th game in school history.

Victory seemed assured. Marshall would be playing its first season in Division I-A.

But the Cadets didn’t count on Marshall securing a secret weapon in the interim--wide receiver Randy Moss.

Moss turned two short receptions into touchdown jaunts of 90 and 79 yards in the Thundering Herd’s 35-25 upset victory.

Army is now 607-342-51.

NOT SO FAST

San Jose State’s offense under first-year Coach Dave Baldwin has been dubbed “Fast Break Football on Turf.”

The Spartans use four- and five-receiver formations and a roving player who can line up either as a tight end or fullback.

“We have only one direction to go,” said well-traveled quarterback Brian Vye, who came to San Jose State after stints at Gavilan College, LSU and BYU, “and that’s exactly the direction we’re heading--up.”

Maybe next week. Vye had three passes intercepted as Stanford defeated San Jose State, 28-12. San Jose State has lost 17 consecutive nonconference games.

NOTEWORTHY

Washington’s 42-20 victory over BYU ended the Cougars’ 12-game win streak, which had been the longest in the nation. The last time the Cougars lost at home was November, 1995 against Utah. Tennessee, Stanford and Penn State now have the nation’s longest winning streaks at six games.

Oberlin broke a 40-game losing streak, beating Thiel, 18-17. Oberlin’s last win was a 14-8 victory over Kenyon on Nov. 7, 1992 . . . .La Salle’s first game since 1941 ended in defeat as Fairfield defeated the Explorers, 34-10, at Philadelphia. La Salle disbanded its program because enrollment dropped during World War II.

Kentucky sophomore quarterback Tim Couch tied a Southeastern Conference record with 39 completions in the Wildcats’ 35-27 loss to Mississippi State. . . .Oklahoma’s 36-34 victory over Syracuse was the Sooners’ first home win since defeating North Texas on Sept. 23, 1995.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Pro Football Factories

Forty-four players from Notre Dame are on NFL rosters, meaning the Fighting Irish had the most players in the league for the third straight year. Notre Dame had 43 players in the NFL in 1996 and 42 in 1995. The top 5 for this year:

* Notre Dame: 44

* Miami: 37

* Penn State: 36

* Ohio State: 35

* Tennessee: 35

LEADERS BY POSITION

* Quarterback: Maryland: 5

* Running Back: Penn State: 7

* Wide Receiver: Miami: 8

* Offensive Tackle: USC: 5

* Guard: Penn State: 8

* Center: Wisconsin: 4