(Notre Dame Media Relations)
In 1964, when Ara Parseghian was hired, another successful coach had been Notre Dame’s second choice. Dan Devine had been winning football games at Missouri since 1958 and was interested in the ND job. When Ara retired after the 1974 season, Devine became Notre Dame’s first choice. By then, Devine had added NFL experience to his résumé with four seasons in Green Bay.
When the offer came, Dan Devine headed to South Bend.
Known as a master motivator and stickler for detail, Devine picked up where Ara had left off and found immediate success. Eight wins in his first season were followed by nine in 1976, which concluded with a Gator Bowl victory over Penn State. That win raised high expectations for his next team.
It took the 1977 team a while to find its footing, but after suffering an early-season upset loss to Mississippi, Notre Dame, with Joe Montana at quarterback, went on a roll. Devine’s Irish ended the season by beating number one and previously undefeated Texas in the Cotton Bowl, 38-10, to claim the National Championship.
After that, Devine enjoyed more success. Few wins are as well-known in Notre Dame football lore as his Cotton Bowl victory in 1978. That game is remembered as “The Chicken Soup Game” and featured an ailing Joe Montana leading a 23-point fourth-quarter comeback against Houston in icy, frigid conditions.
In August of 1980, Devine announced that his sixth season would be his last. That final team made a run at another national title before dropping their last two games, including a 17-10 Sugar Bowl loss to eventual national champion Georgia.
Dan Devine closed out his six-season run at ND with a record of 53-16-1. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1985.
Dan Devine, another Fighting Irish Preview All-Time Irish Hero.