No More Deja Vu
Happy almost Friday! For this week’s throwback Thursday journey, let’s rewind to 1984 and revisit the showdown between Notre Dame and Missouri. In the vast tapestry of college football history, certain moments are etched with an intensity that transcends time. The 1984 clash between Notre Dame and Missouri stands as a testament to the unpredictability and sheer drama that defines the sport. As the clock ticked down to its final seconds, the fate of both teams hung in the balance, poised on the precipice of victory or heartbreak.
For Notre Dame’s head coach Gerry Faust, the game was more than a mere contest; it was a test of faith. With memories of past defeats haunting him, Faust found himself praying fervently, hoping against hope for a different outcome. But across the field, Missouri’s nose guard, Steve Leshe, echoed a similar sentiment, his prayers mingling with the tension that permeated the stadium.
As I delve into the intricacies of this unforgettable showdown, I invite you to join me on a journey through time, where the echoes of missed opportunities and moments of brilliance still reverberate. As I look back on the 1984 Notre Dame vs. Missouri game, I discover a story full of emotion, excitement, and the lasting essence of college football.
The following excerpt is from the April 1, 1985 special issue of The Scholastic Magazine, which contained the 1984 Notre Dame Football Review.
No More Deja Vu
by John Heisler
Notre Dame football coach Gerry Faust wasn’t bashful. He admitted he was praying.
So was Missouri nose guard Steve Leshe: “I’m an old Catholic boy and I was praying for the Lord to get the damn ball through the uprights.”
It was strictly deja vu for Faust. In four seasons with the Irish he’d seen his team lose four times with less than a minute left on the clock.
Give a kid a chance of a lifetime to beat Notre Dame with the pressure on and he’ll come through every time.
Scott Campbell did. On September 26, 1981, his two-point conversion throw to Steve Bryant with :19 on the clock let Purdue beat the Irish 15-14.
Max Zendejas did. On October 16, 1982, his 48-yard field goal as time expired let Arizona beat the Irish 16-13.
Michael Harper did. On November 27, 1982, his one-yard scoring dive with :48 on the clock let USC beat the Irish 17-13.
Doug Strang did. On November 12, 1983, his eight-yard run with :19 on the clock let Penn State beat the Irish 34-30.
So why should Brad Burditt be any different? Keep praying, Gerry.
Give a 22-year-old senior from Monroe City, Mo., a chance to kick a 39-yard field goal to beat Notre Dame with seven seconds left and how’s he ever going to miss? Especially when he has made every kick but two from inside the 40 in his entire career.
But Burditt missed. Plenty of people on both sides were surprised.
The kick was on target, but-like a pop fly-it didn’t quite carry far enough. It landed harmlessly in the end zone. Fourteen out of 16 became 14 out of 17.
Burditt, his Tiger teammates and coach Warren Powers took it like men. Faust and the Irish just took it.
“I stood behind three guys,” said Irish linebacker Rick DiBernardo. “I didn’t want to see it.”
“A lot of people would be lying if they said they didn’t think of any flashbacks,” said linebacker Mike Golic.
“I followed the flight of the ball all the way,” said defensive tackle Mike Gann. At first I thought it would be too far to the right. Then it started coming back and I thought it was good. Then they told me it was short.”
“Mr. Corrigan (Irish athletic director Gene) told me the difference between good teams and great teams is they win games like this,” said tailback Allen Pinkett.
“The last three years that kick would have been good,” said safety Joe Johnson, a senior who saw it happen more times than he cared to remember.
“I feel sorry for him as an individual,” said Burditt’s Irish counterpart, John Carney. “He probably feels the weight of the world on his shoulders. He’d probably give anything to get that kick back.”
“I was confident,” said Mizzou quarterback Marlon Adler. “I felt like, ‘I want to get back on the bench so I can watch this.’ I know Brad and I know what he can do. I felt like we had it. He’s kicked those so many times. But this time, it wasn’t in the cards. I knew it was going to be close. I was just hoping it would go, go, go.’’
“When I hit it, I knew it was questionable,” said Burditt. “I didn’t hit it properly. It’s the most difficult moment of my career. I’m just a victim of circumstances.’’
A full house of 70,915 fans and a national television audience via ABC couldn’t have expected a more finger-nail-dooming finish. There were plenty of miscues by both sides. But when a pair of high-powered offenses are shut down by sturdy defensive play, it makes for high drama on every possession.
Touchdowns proved tough to come by-as Missouri proved on its opening drive. Stealing a play from the Notre Dame playbook, the Tigers warmed up in their traditional black jerseys, only to re-emerge just before kickoff in bright gold shirts and a cannon-full of hazy, gold smoke. It was a tribute to former Mizzou coach Don Faurot, the weekend’s honored guest whose Tiger teams had worn all gold.
“Ever since I got into town, I had a feeling they might do something like that,” said Faust. “I saw advertisements that said, ‘Wear yellow, or bring it to the game.’ We heard rumors before the game they were going to wear yellow uniforms.’’
The Tigers nearly struck gold on that initial march down to the Notre Dame one. But after quarterback Warren Seitz landed short on a third-down quarterback sneak, Eric Drain tried the skydive route on fourth down. The problem was Gann, who nailed him in mid-air. “There was a hole and I filled it,” said Gann. “I didn’t expect him to be in the air. He just popped up there right in front of me.’’
“I was shocked that I was stopped,” said Drain, who finished with a career-high 120 yards. “I never should have left my feet. I felt those seven points. We didn’t have those seven points because I was stopped.”
Keep reading here! (Bottom of page 19)
Thank you for joining me on this journey through history once more. But fear not, as our Throwback Thursday adventures are just getting started! Do you have a favorite Notre Dame football moment you’d like to see revisited? Share your suggestions with me! Let’s continue to uncover the legendary tales of Fighting Irish football together. Until next time, keep upholding the unwavering spirit of the Fighting Irish!