1977 Notre Dame vs. #1-ranked San Francisco

The Fighting Irish upset undefeated and #1-ranked San Francisco in the final game of the regular season, March 5, 1977 in South Bend. Thanks to KH for combining the color film with the original radio broadcast. Tom Dennin described the action on the ND network.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• 1977
• Notre
• Dame
• San
• Francisco
• basketball
• Digger
• Phelps

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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....

[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....

[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.

[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.

[jaytf123]

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

[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.