The Conception of the "Comeback Kid": The Game Joe Montana Became a Legend
The golden Midwestern sun shone down upon the endless array of screaming patrons, all dawning gold and black. The faithful fans were avidly rooting for their beloved Boilermakers, as the underdog team from West Lafayette, Indiana, was about to upset the dreaded private school from South Bend. Purdue held a 24-14 lead as they now headed into the final quarter of football.
Photo By Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Notre Dame, led by Dan Devine, was upset just a week earlier at the hands of the Ole Miss Rebels. The Irish had been ranked third by the AP Poll at the start of the 1977 season, in part due to pocket commander Rusty Lisch.
The Notre Dame offense had been largely ineffective against the Boilermaker defensive attack. Lisch was a run-based quarterback, but the Irish struggled to get anything going on the ground. Coach Dan Devine opted for Lisch's backup, Gary Forystek, just before the conclusion of the first half. Forystek was an excellent passing quarterback, so the Irish would attempt to utilize the passing game to mount a comeback. The ball zipped downfield, but Notre Dame failed to capitalize in the endzone.
Suddenly, hope appeared for the Irish, as things finally started to click for Forystek. The team looked mature and moved with gusto, as the now eleventh-ranked squad finally started to prove why they deserve to be ranked. However, a Purdue defender snuck through the Irish's wall of offensive linemen to sack the backup quarterback. Forystek didn't rise up quickly like Notre Dame fans had been accustomed to, and the team medic rushing out to midfield confirmed the sinking stomachs of Irish fans. Forystek had broken his collarbone.
All the hopes and dreams of Notre Dame having a championship season now rested on the shoulders of their third-string quarterback; a skinny kid with wavy hair from rural Pennsylvania. Joe Montana was now feeling the pressure as he came under center for the first time in two years. Montana completed his first pass despite feeling the heat from the Purdue defensive line. Montana followed up his first pass with another. Then another. Then another. At the end of the Irish's seven-play drive, Montana had gone 7/7 and brought the score seven points closer to a comeback.
The Irish defense would hold up better than previous Boilermaker drives, forcing Purdue to punt. Montana would take advantage of the opportunity as he stormed down the field to score yet another passing touchdown. As the smoke settled, Montana had led the Irish to 17 unanswered points and a win over the in-state rival.
The aftershock of this game hit South Bend later in the season, as Montana never left the starting spot underneath the center. The 1977 season would end with a ring and trophy after the Irish defeated a very talented Texas team 38-10 in the Cotton Bowl. The legend of Joe Montana had just finished it's first chapter, which would see a Hall-of-Fame selection and four Super Bowl rings.
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