50th Anniversary of "The Drive" (long)

Sid · Nov 16, 2007

In a year when ND fans are starved for any semblance of positive news, this should bring smiles. I remember it. I was 11 yrs. old and not an ND fan, but I was aware of the win streak and the significance of the upset.

Intereting tidbit in the story, that the SI jinx was said to be born on that day.

Golden Anniversary, Golden Drive, Golden Moment
by LOU SOMOGYI
Web Editor

November 16, 1957 was “Statehood Day” in Oklahoma, a celebration of its 50th anniversary of becoming the 46th state in the Union.

There was little joy in the state that day, though, as a 4-2 Notre Dame football team pulled off its greatest upset ever and snapped the Oklahoma Sooners’ NCAA-record 47-game winning streak, a string that has not come close to being matched.

This week, Oklahoma celebrates its centennial year, while Notre Dame commemorates its own golden anniversary of that monumental feat.

The 7-0 Irish victory marked the first time Bud Wilkinson’s juggernaut had lost since Sept. 26, 1953 – also at home, also by seven points (28-21) and also to Notre Dame.

A 40-0 victor at Notre Dame a year earlier (still the worst loss ever at home by the Irish), the Sooners were 19-to-21-point favorites. The week of the game, the relatively new publication Sports Illustrated put the Sooners on the cover with the headline “Why Oklahoma is Unbeatable.”

The birth of the SI cover jinx had commenced, but preparation and determination were the instruments of the conquest.

Notre Dame head coach Terry Brennan and his staff devised an aggressive game plan on defense that limited the Sooners to 145 yards total offense.

The Irish missed on two scoring opportunities in the second quarter, first when fullback Jim Just was stopped short of the goal line on fourth and goal from the one (a call disputed by Brennan), and then a first-and-goal situation from the six ending with an interception in the end zone on a halfback pass.

In the second half, Oklahoma’s superb punting forced Notre Dame to start its first four possessions from its 15, 4, 3 and 7.

With 12:51 left, another Sooner punt finally crossed the goal line, giving Notre Dame “breathing room” from its 20.

What ensued was The Drive: 80 yards, 20 plays, six first downs, and 9:01 of possession time.

Nick Pietrosante opened with an eight-yard scamper, followed by a five-yard jaunt by Dick Lynch and an 11-yard burst by Frank Reynolds on the fourth play.
On 3rd and 5 at the 50, Pietrosante cracked through the middle for seven yards to the Oklahoma 43. Seven running plays had netted 37 yards.
On 3rd and 6 from the 39, Pietrosante barreled through for another first down at the Oklahoma 32. Ten running plays, 48 yards.
On 3rd and 7 from the 29, a critical 10-yard jump pass from Bob Williams to Dick Royer put the ball at the Oklahoma 19. It would be the lone pass of the drive, which was now up to 13 plays for 61 yards.
A fumbled handoff exchange was recovered by Williams but it put Notre Dame in another 3rd-and-7 situation, this time from the 16. Lynch navigated for eight yards on a draw for 1st and goal at the 8. The 16 plays had amassed 72 methodical yards.
Pietrosante gained four, Lynch was stopped for no gain and Williams on a keeper picked up one. It was fourth and goal at the Sooner three-yard line, as 19 straight Notre Dame plays totaled 77 yards.
The simple plan was now to attempt a short field goal with Monty Stickles, right?

“No!” Brennan declared. “We decided at the half to go all the way. We were afraid Oklahoma could score any time it had the ball, and we felt it would take a touchdown to win.”

Williams was calm as he called the play.

“They’re looking for Nick, but I’m quick pitching it to Lynch around the right end,” Williams said in the huddle. “Everybody block to the left.”

The Sooner line was bunched up, looking for Pietrosante to get the ball, but the quick pitch went to Lynch, who accelerated into the end zone untouched. Pietrosante threw a great block, eliminating the lone Sooner who had a chance for a tackle. Stickles kicked the extra point to make it 7-0.

There was still 3:50 left, certainly time enough for a score.

After Notre Dame made a stop on fourth down, Oklahoma took possession for the last time at its 40 with 1:22 left.

Wilkinson put in his second-string offensive unit because he thought it was fresh. From midfield, a long pass downfield was broken up, but the ball ricocheted into the hands of Oklahoma’s John Pellow for a 26-yard gain to the 24 – their version of “The Immaculate Reception.” Still, with 22 seconds left, Williams intercepted a pass near the goal line that resulted in a touchback.

On Nov. 16, 1957, at 4:17 p.m., the longest winning streak in college football history ended.
Click to expand...

Terry O'Keefe · Nov 16, 2007

Cleveland and Denver fans may recall a different "Drive" 8) 8)

Sid · Nov 16, 2007

Cleveland and Denver fans may recall a different "Drive"
Click to expand...

Not 50 years ago. 8)

PJMIII · Nov 16, 2007

I remember a picture of Pietrosante's block and Lynch running into the endzone. BTW, that 40-0 game was the only time OU ever beat the Irish. Notre Dame leads the series 8 to 1.

Thanks Sid..

PJ in Jersey

Don Ballard · Nov 17, 2007

Sid,

For some strange reason I was thinking about that game last week.

I appreciate the article, but I was thinking I was still in high school at the time. It appears I was in college here at Ohio State in 1957.

Don

Sid · Nov 17, 2007

Gosh, Don. You, Bill and Joel are all older than I. I'm just a kid here. Well.....not exactly.

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