It’s a Good Thing Notre Dame and Indiana Didn't Work Out; Jeweled Shillelagh Revival Reaction
- Alex Madsen
- 5 hours ago
- 4 min read
Updated: 9 minutes ago
The now-defunct scheduled matchup between the two in-state rivals opened up the door for a familiar foe.
Photo via Notre Dame Athletics
On Monday, August 3rd, Notre Dame and USC announced the renewal of the historic Jeweled Shillelagh trophy after the talks had fizzled out this past offseason. The Trojan Athletic Department had pushed heavily for a late-season matchup against the Irish, as a USC win would likely fare better in the playoff race. However, Notre Dame strongly pushed for an early-season matchup.
Notre Dame was originally scheduled to play the now-dominant Indiana Hoosiers in the front half of the 2030 and 2031 seasons. The agreement between the two schools was signed in March of 2021, before the Hoosiers had any serious thoughts of competing in the playoffs. In fact, the 2031 matchup in Bloomington would’ve been the first time since 1950 the Irish had traveled south to play the in-state rival. However, Indiana would request that Notre Dame be taken off the schedule so the Hoosiers could face fellow Big 10 schools instead. The Irish were the only major out-of-conference opponent scheduled for Indiana so far.
Although it would certainly be cinematic to see the two Sycamore state powerhouses face off, I am glad Notre Dame and USC will instead continue to add to the shared legendary legacy of the rivalry. It is a shame the reconciliation hadn’t happened sooner, as the formerly annual matchup has been deemed “the greatest intersectional rivalry in college football” by journalists, fans, and even the schools themselves.
The rivalry has been coined as a “conversation between wives”, when in the winter of 1926, the wife of legendary coach Knute Rockne begged to go someplace warm after listening to USC athletic director Gwynn Wilson’s wife. The Irish were in Lincoln, Nebraska, that day, playing in frigid weather in front of a very hostile and anti-catholic crowd of Husker fans. Mrs. Rockne won, and thus the legendary matchup was born. Since the inception of the game in 1926 (a 13-12 Irish win), the two teams have played 95 consecutive annual matchups except for a three-year stoppage during World War II and the 2020 COVID year.
Several memorable moments on both sides of the aisle have been conceived during the rivalry's tenure.
In 1931, USC upset Rockne and the Irish in South Bend in a come-from-behind victory to clinch the Trojans’ second National title. In 1974, USC would orchestrate a 24-point comeback in a stomach-turning 24-54 Irish loss.
The Irish have also had plenty of unforgettable moments; the most famous was the first interaction of the annual ‘Irish Wear Green’ game in 1977. Coach Dan Devine had the Irish dress in the traditional navy blue attire before changing into the now iconic green jerseys for game time, much to the surprise of Irish fans and Trojan players. The “Green Machine” would beat Southern Cal 49-19, as Quarterback Joe Montana led the Irish to a National Championship. In 1988, head coach Lou Holtz and future Heisman Tim Brown beat the star-studded #2-ranked USC squad. The #1-ranked Irish were still considered underdogs as they were without two prominent players, who had been suspended for disciplinary reasons.
The games haven’t been without controversy, as many Notre Dame fans mournfully recall the infamous “Bush Push” game in 2005, when Trojan Running Back Reggie Bush illegally aided his Quarterback Matt Leinart in a last-second touchdown to seal the game for the Trojans. Irish fans can happily recall the Notre Dame secondary shutting down Heisman favorite QB Caleb Williams when the Trojans suffered five offensive turnovers. Overall, Notre Dame leads the series 51-37-5 over USC, with the Irish winning eight of the last ten matchups.
I will forever hold this historic rivalry between two great teams over what could have been with Indiana. Would there still be excitement against the Hoosiers if they were awful that year? Probably not. But there is always excitement when blood, sweat, and tears are spilled fighting over the Shillelagh Trophy. As much as fans can detest and despise Southern Cal, they are a perfect rival for Notre Dame. They are a classy program, with fans who travel and care deeply about the team. That is what makes rivalries special. I will be looking forward to the renewal of this great duel in only four short years. Plenty of time for the hate to brew.
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Typo on the year of the Bush Push game (should be 2005).
Also, I thought that in the failed negotiations to extend the Series, USC had always pushed for the earlier dates and ND preferred to stick with the status quo of the past 60+ years, October in South Bend and Thanksgiving weekend in L.A.
The article states that in 1988 Heisman Trophy winner Tim Brown upset the # #2 ranked Trojans . This is false . That happened in 1987