Catholics vs. Convicts: Legends Recount a History of Competitive Fire
Updated: 7 minutes ago
Rivalry drives sports; it boosts fan enjoyment, adds juice for players and coaches, and lifts ratings for networks. These games often become part of college football lore.
Photo by Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
To understand rivalry, one must know where it came from. Notre Dame has many rivals, some more intense than others. But one stood out as among the most intense between players, fans, and even coaches. For many, that rivalry was born from three words, emblazoned across a white cotton T-shirt in green and orange block lettering; those three words have become an indelible, undeniable, and notorious title in college football history.
Catholics versus Convicts. The title given to the Notre Dame versus Miami Hurricanes rivalry. From 1985-1990, this game was one of the most intense and most watched. Two games in five seasons essentially decided the National Champion, and although the rivalry cooled off in the decades following, after last season's tight opening week showdown that had major playoff implications, this week’s matchup and latest installment is one of the most anticipated of the season.
Seeds Of Rivalry
For many, the rivalry began in 1985. With one week to go in the season, embattled Notre Dame head coach Gerry Faust announced he would be resigning at the end of the season. The season was a make-or-break year for Faust, and the Irish sat at 5-5. They traveled to the University of Miami to take on the number four-ranked Miami Hurricanes, on their way to a national title.
“Coach Faust was a great man and a great recruiter.” Longtime Notre Dame broadcaster Jack Nolan recounts. “He had some bad breaks; in 1982 (quarterback) Blair Keil had injured his shoulder the week before playing (then number 5) Penn State against (then number one) Pitt (an Irish victory). Had he not been hurt, I thought Notre Dame had a shot to win the whole thing.” Nolan added.
The following season would start the rise of the ‘Canes. They would capture their first National Title and begin a streak of four consecutive wins over the Irish. “Miami had been a team that Notre Dame fans were used to beating. It started a certain amount of resentment; they weren’t used to losing to teams like that.” Recalled Nolan.
1985 has been called the most egregious. Miami would score the most points in a game since 1967. Up 37-7 going into the fourth quarter, Miami continued throwing the ball, running a pressure defense, and even ran a punt block that led to a touchdown.
“I didn’t like them,” 1989 Notre Dame Graduate and director of the ESPN 30 for 30 Catholics versus Convicts, Patrick Creadon, said. “They were very good and (I) didn’t like the bad boy image. They taunted and humiliated Notre Dame in Gerry’s last game. You can beat a team 70-0 and do it respectfully”. Creadon concluded.
Nolan would second that sentiment. “No one questioned Miami was the better team; this was cruelty up 51-7; they didn’t need to block the punt.” Nolan would have the last word. A Miami sports talk radio show would get his home phone number and call and question why Irish supporters would have the audacity to be upset. “They rubbed a good man's face in the mud, and they were getting angry, and I ended it with, ' We will see you down the road, said Nolan.
Irish Get Closer
Following Faust’s departure, the late Lou Holtz would take over a downtrodden Irish program. The two teams would not play in 1986. They did square off in 1987 at the Orange Bowl with Miami being ranked second in the nation. The Irish would fall 24-0. Former Notre Dame and NFL player Pat Terrell was recruited during the 1985 season. “Friends and family were shocked that I chose Notre Dame; they thought I was crazy,” Terrell recalled with a laugh. “In 1987 they beat us, as a younger player, I felt, ‘I’m as fast and strong as those guys and got a sense we could get this done”
“For us it was just another game. It wasn’t like we had to get up for them; they were just another game.” Miami Hurricanes great and former NFL player Cleveland Gary countered.
“We bought into Lou’s vision; for us the rise wasn’t a surprise,” added Terrell.
The Shirt
The rivalry didn’t need any additional fuel; it was about to get gallons of kerosene doused on it going into 1988, and it would come from an unlikely source. Two-time Men’s Basketball Captain (1988-89 and 1989-1990) and founder of Catholics versus Convicts, Joe Frederick, was home for summer vacation when an innocuous story would give birth to the three words known to this day. “I was watching SportsCenter at home and heard a story about a couple of Miami players being arrested, and my brother Chuck said Miami is a bunch of convicts. When they play Notre Dame, it will be Catholics versus Convicts”, remembered Frederick.
“So, I told Pat Walsh, who made shirts for everything; hook me up with your printer. I paid him one dollar per shirt and laid it out.” Fredrick and his pals then began selling the shirts across campus with key help from his roommate Mike Capinegro.
The shirt now has mixed reactions: “I didn’t like it and still don’t like it. As much as I didn’t like Miami, I felt it was judgemental, and you try to win and win with class,” said Creadon. “I think it made Miami folks angrier; they took it as an insult. It was amusing to a degree, but it couldn’t happen today; the atmosphere really allowed it,” Said Nolan.
On the Miami side, the Hurricanes had a different view of it: “No thoughts at all, great players understand it’s psychological and don’t take it personally,” said Gary. For Terrell, he was not a fan: “I didn’t like it. There were bad apples on every team; we weren’t angels, and we weren’t perfect. It was tough.” Said Terrell.
For all the controversy, Frederick never felt it at the time. “None, zero, not one person said anything. People loved it and everyone on campus wanted it,” stated Frederick, so much so that to boost initial sales himself and Capinegro gave players the shirt to wear to drive interest.
The 1988 Season and Showdown With Miami
“We had a chip on our shoulders; we had a faster secondary. We had me, Todd Lyght, Rocket, Andre Jones; we all could have gone to any program, but we chose to come to Notre Dame", stated Terrell, recalling the Irish approach going into the 1988 season.
The feelings in the Notre Dame community were that the Irish would be good. ” Everyone knew they would be good; the talent was evident, and Lou worked them. The team was committed 24/7, and it was clear as day who was in charge.” Recalled Frederick.
For Miami, they were indifferent towards any Irish threat “Same feeling (as the year before) the were not the most talented team we would face (Miami opened that season taking on then number one Florida State). We took every opponent the same. It was TCB (Take Care of Business) straight TCB. They played hard, but they didn’t match up with us.” Said Gary.
The game would begin with a now infamous brawl between the two teams. And the intensity did not stop there. The game was a back-and-forth battle but is best known for three particular plays.
First, with Notre Dame up 21-7 but with Miami driving, quarterback Steve Walsh would look to hit Leonard Conley for a short crossing route. However, Irish Lineman Frank Stams would tip the pass, and Terrell, shot out of a cannon, would drive on the ball to pick it off. Although it looked like Terrell was flying to the end zone, there was a concern: “Walsh had an angle on me, and my mom and family were in the stands, and I couldn’t let them watch a QB catch me,” said Terrell.
Any great game is not without controversy. With a little over seven minutes left in the fourth quarter and Notre Dame clinging to a 31-24 lead, Walsh would complete a pass to Gary, who would be clipped down at the one-yard line by George Streeter. When (or as, depending on who you ask) Gary hit the ground, reaching the ball across the goal line, the ball would come loose. Michael Stonebreaker would jump on it, and officials ruled it was a fumble, or now a play in Miami lore called the “Phantom Fumble”
“It was a touchdown, and they knew it was a touchdown. George Streeter needs to quit lying. I had the biggest hand on the team and could grip that ball. He didn’t even touch me.” Gary defiantly stated. The pain of that call wasn’t the only pain Gary felt during the game. He played the game with cracked ribs and wasn’t even supposed to play. “I flew with the team, and pregame was in sweatpants, and I went into the locker room and saw my jersey in the locker. I knew my team's play would depend on me, and the adrenaline started kicking in, and I said I'mma play.” Gary recalled.
Regardless, Miami would get within one point, and Head Coach Jimmy Johnson wasn’t going to play for a tie (there was no overtime back then). With 45 seconds left, Miami lined up for a two-point conversion. There was one problem - The following week they had to go for two twice against Michigan, and teams didn’t have a lot of two-point plays. For Notre Dame, they were ready.
“Barry (then defensive coordinator Barry Alvarez) was such a cool coach; we were prepared. I knew it would come down to 1 or 2 plays. He (Andre Brown) could do a dig in or out. I just knew I had to get to the corner (of the end zone). I jumped a little too early and was able to get the ball to the ground,” which Terrell would do, tipping the Walsh pass to Brown away, and the Irish would win the historic matchup en route to the 1988 national title.
Following the 1988 Game and Moving Forward
Notre Dame and Miami would play two more times, splitting the two games. However, in 1990 it was decided the rivalry needed a break. They would play sporadically, with the games of utmost importance being the 2010 Sun Bowl (won by the Irish 33-17) and a top-ten showdown in 2017 in Miami with the Hurricanes dominating the Irish 41-8. Moving forward, opinions seem to differ on whether they should play every year.
“That’s a tough question; with NIL in effect, it dispels those rivalries. There is a new dimension of tradition in college football. It’s taken away the college spirit.” Said Gary.
Creadon said he would welcome Miami being added: “Yes, it’s a great rivalry that I'm glad that we have. I’m extremely disappointed in USC. If they don’t want to play, play Miami.” he said.
As for this year's game, both Terrell and Gary had advice for the participants: “Play with passion, extreme effort, and poise. The eyes of the country will be on you; represent your family and university as you desire to be perceived.” Said Terrell. “Appreciate the historical matchup and be grateful to be a part of history.” Added Gary.
Creadon himself had one wish: “I hope the best team wins and a lot of Miami fans come, and the people of Notre Dame treat them with respect and enjoy being a part of this special rivalry,” he said.
Special Thanks
I want to thank Patrick Creadon (for his massive assistance with this piece) Jack Nolan, Joe Frederick, Pat Terrell (Who after playing in the NFL became a pilot and now runs his own company, Terrell Materials Corp.) and Cleveland Gary. They gave me so much information that I wish I could include everything. This article would not be possible without them and the time they gave me. I will be forever grateful.
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