1977 Notre Dame vs. #1-ranked San Francisco

[sdadaynd77]

The ND Student body was given the MVP for the game.

[deanw0rmer]

The NCAA screwed San Fran just like they did all the non power conference teams.

[ripperduck]

@deanw0rmer Didn't USF unilaterally do the death penalty for the bball program? That was my understanding when I attended USF. Only my senior year did they start to have games again, but by then, the program was pretty much gone. That penalty tore the heart out of San Francisco college athletics....

[paulsonj72]

@ripperduck

Yes that is the case. USF was on probation for recruting violations in 1979 and 1980. When the administration discovered more violations they dropped the program.

[tellthetruthg]

I played against Boynes , Hardy and Jeff Randle at Cal State Hayward in a pick up game. Open Gym night of course they killed and won till they decided to leave; games went to 24. I scored on a tip dunk, Thats right tip dunk, after a guy I didn't know blew a lay up. The ball came off the back of the rim perfectly. Everyone was like who the F is that guy long haired white boy 5'9 140lbs. No video phones in the 70's but I did what I did and the half of the first fab 5 saw it. too.

[sciutti]

I miss James Hardy, Bill Cartwright, Winfred Boynes, Chubby Cox, Ken McCalister, Doug Jemison, Billy Reid, Bart Bowers, Quintin Dailey, (despite his off court problems) etc. For a few years they had no starter under 6 foot 5 and along with Tark's UNLV Running Rebels were the most entertaining team in the land. Too much talent and not enough basketballs to go around.

[ripperduck]

@sciutti You need to add Phil Smith (RIP) to that lineup. He was a few years before these guys but he was still a great player and a great representative of the school. And after reading your list it does solidify that USF was a real powerhouse, could have easily challenged UCLA and other teams around the nation for a long time. Damn what a shame....

[hermanglimsher]

To tjnd88

You are correct. It just doesn't look like Notre Dame's home court.

Maybe it is the postion of the camera.

[hermanglimsher]

I don't think the game was played in South Bend.

I think it was played at the Rosemont Horizion outside Chicago.

[tjnd88]

It was played in South Bend. The scoreboards in the corners give it away. The Rosemont Horizon didn't open until July 1980. Notre Dame upset #1 Virginia there in February 1981.

[1400deadwood]

Toilet paper! They used to throw even more at the Palestra in Philadelphia. But the tradition was banned.

Ah, I miss those days.

[jaytf123]

It was streamers at the Palestra. Different colors depending on the school colors.

[bubbabubbabooba]

this was an amazing year for the USF Dons that ended in brutal fashion. They had rolled to a 29-0 record and #1 ranking, led by Center Bill Cartwright who would later win NBA titles with Michael Jordan. They had a very solid PG in Chubby Cox, a slashing SF in Winfred Boynes, and a big dunker and rebounding PF in James Hardy. With 1 game to go to end the regular season unbeaten, they lost this game to the Irish, and then in the 1st round of the NCAA tourney, UNLV routed them by 25 points.

[ripperduck]

I attended USF in the years that they closed the program down. Only in my senior year, if memory served, did they revive it. That suspension tore the heart outta San Francisco college athletics. The program has been no where close to what it had been and with SF State shutting down most of their athletic departments, nothing exists. Man it hurt to see the sports program that produced Russel, Jones, Cartwright, Smith and the great FB players disappear about 10 years after this game.

[Firebirdfrenzy79]

do you have footage from any games at the old ND Fieldhouse?

[hoosierlooker]

29 and 1! 29 and 1! 29 and 1! 29 and 1! 29 and 1! 29 and 1! NBC gave the student body the player of the game award. The ND student body is still a great show. Love the LEFT RIGHT LEFT RIGHT for an opposing player when they foul out.

[pete7138]

That was awesome.....oh, the good old days of Dons basketball. This might as well have been 1877.

[ripperduck]

I attended USF when they didn't have a team for a few years. My senior year did they finally begin to play again.

[bhook68]

Just one question - Who brings toilet paper to a basketball game?

[tjnd88]

It was a tradition at Notre Dame to throw T.P. after the first ND basket for many years until the NCAA outlawed throwing stuff on the court in the late 1980's.