Notre Dame Puts End to Epic Football Streak

The 1957 Notre Dame football team (7-3) wouldn’t make a top-50 list of great Irish teams, but 42 years ago today, in Norman, Okla., it carved out one of Notre Dame’s greatest victories.

Prospects weren’t promising for the Irish that weekend, after consecutive losses to Navy (20-6) and Michigan State (34-6). Terry Brennan’s fourth Notre Dame team was coming off a 2-8 season and there was grumbling in the ranks of Irish faithful.

Oklahoma was at a 20th century peak. The Sooners had won 47 consecutive games--still the NCAA record--dating to a 28-21 season-opening loss to Notre Dame in 1953.

Oklahoma, an 18-point favorite, had scored in 123 consecutive games, another record. And in the previous season, Oklahoma had beaten Notre Dame, 40-0, at South Bend, Ind.

It was a 7-0 shocker for Notre Dame, achieved in the final minutes, before a hostile, largely silent throng of 63,170.

The Irish moved 80 yards on their final drive, with 210-pound fullback Nick Pietrosante getting three key first downs behind Al Ecuyer’s blocks on up-the-middle runs. Quarterback Bob Williams engineered the drive, which took Notre Dame to a first down at the Sooner eight.

Pietrosante reached the four, then Dick Lynch was stopped for no gain. On third down, Williams got a yard on a keeper.

Then the winner: Williams made a great fake to Pietrosante and pitched to Lynch, running right, who scored standing up. Monty Stickles converted.

Notre Dame’s sideline celebration began early. Oklahoma’s last drive ended on an interception. At that, the Oklahoma partisans rose and cheered the Notre Dame players.

Brennan was in the catbird seat for only a week. The next Saturday, in South Bend, Ind., the Irish lost to Iowa, 21-13.

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Also on this date: In 1929, before 112,912 at Chicago’s Soldier Field, Notre Dame beat USC, 13-12. . . . In 1968, University of Cincinnati quarterback Greg Cook passed for 554 yards but the Bearcats lost to Ohio University, 63-47.