15 Years ago.

[UNTITLEDPROJECT]

Posted by CBiebel on the ESPN forums.

Fifteen years ago ND was looking good in early November. They'd lost to Michigan, but had risen back in the polls to #1. Back then, the bowls made very early agreements on who would go to their games. The Sugar Bowl had given an early offer to ND to play the SEC Champ and ND accepted.

Then disaster struck. After ND had built a sizable lead against Tennessee at home, UT blocked a FG attempt, returned it for a TD (a 10 point swing), and in the process, injured ND's star kicker/punter, Craig Hentrick. UT came back and won the game (ND missed a potentially game winning FG by their backup kicker).

The next week ND lost 35-13 at PSU.

Everyone was complaining about ND's early deal with the Sugar Bowl. They yelled that ND didn't deserve it and that #3 UF would kill them. They said that UF deserved a better opponent.

In a restaurant in New Orleans, a waiter told Lou Holtz a joke: "What's the difference between ND and Cheerios? Cheerios belongs in a bowl." (Holtz replied with one of his own: "What's the difference between Lou Holtz and a golf pro? A golf pro gives a tip")

When that story became public, the game started to be referred to as the "Cheerios game."

ND wasn't expected to do well with UF. ND's defense had been so horrible that Holtz fired his DC and took over calling the defense as well as the offense. ND went with a "bend, don't break" defense that allowed UF to get a ton of yards, but most of their drives resulted in FGs.

The score was 16-7 at the half and the announcers were saying ND was lucky to keep it that close with their poor defense that allowed UF to go down the field. However, that same defense was given a lot of praise in the 2nd half when ND, led by Jerome Bettis, ran all over UF and traded FGs for TDs.

UF set a Sugar Bowl record of 5 FGs, but unfortunately for them, ND 5 TDs to counter that. The final score was ND 39 UF 28.

Fifteen years later it could be ND vs UF in the Sugar Bowl again, with people saying that ND "doesn't deserve to be there."

 

[ACamp1900]

I rememerb this VERY clearly... I was a very young and confident Irish fan during the UT game and felt like going out and playing with friends since "ND had it in the bag," my friends dad told me as soon as it was over that ND lost and I went home a locked myself in my room the rest of the day... I also remember the other loses that year... funny thing is I hardly remember the sugar bowl that year at all... but I always stick closer to the great loses for some reason... BC in 93 was the day my childhood offically ended...

 

[NDOM]

Posted by CBiebel on the ESPN forums.

Fifteen years ago ND was looking good in early November. They'd lost to Michigan, but had risen back in the polls to #1. Back then, the bowls made very early agreements on who would go to their games. The Sugar Bowl had given an early offer to ND to play the SEC Champ and ND accepted.

Then disaster struck. After ND had built a sizable lead against Tennessee at home, UT blocked a FG attempt, returned it for a TD (a 10 point swing), and in the process, injured ND's star kicker/punter, Craig Hentrick. UT came back and won the game (ND missed a potentially game winning FG by their backup kicker).

The next week ND lost 35-13 at PSU.

Everyone was complaining about ND's early deal with the Sugar Bowl. They yelled that ND didn't deserve it and that #3 UF would kill them. They said that UF deserved a better opponent.

In a restaurant in New Orleans, a waiter told Lou Holtz a joke: "What's the difference between ND and Cheerios? Cheerios belongs in a bowl." (Holtz replied with one of his own: "What's the difference between Lou Holtz and a golf pro? A golf pro gives a tip")

When that story became public, the game started to be referred to as the "Cheerios game."

ND wasn't expected to do well with UF. ND's defense had been so horrible that Holtz fired his DC and took over calling the defense as well as the offense. ND went with a "bend, don't break" defense that allowed UF to get a ton of yards, but most of their drives resulted in FGs.

The score was 16-7 at the half and the announcers were saying ND was lucky to keep it that close with their poor defense that allowed UF to go down the field. However, that same defense was given a lot of praise in the 2nd half when ND, led by Jerome Bettis, ran all over UF and traded FGs for TDs.

UF set a Sugar Bowl record of 5 FGs, but unfortunately for them, ND 5 TDs to counter that. The final score was ND 39 UF 28.

Fifteen years later it could be ND vs UF in the Sugar Bowl again, with people saying that ND "doesn't deserve to be there."

Props to you UNTITLEDPROJECT!! That's some pretty goog memories there. I havent thought about that story in awhile until now. And the cool thing is we had those away Green Jerseys too.

 

[scooper]

That was a great game. ND dropped eight guys every play, yet Spurrier's ego did him in. He seemed to refuse to accept the fact that he couldn't throw on that ND defense. Had he run the ball more, the game may have differed.

But nobody on Florida was stopping the Bus that day.

 

[Vince Young]

In a restaurant in New Orleans, a waiter told Lou Holtz a joke: "What's the difference between ND and Cheerios? Cheerios belongs in a bowl." (Holtz replied with one of his own: "What's the difference between Lou Holtz and a golf pro? A golf pro gives a tip")

True story... the restaurant was actually one in the Orlando area; apparently Lou had a second home down there at the time. The waiter's name was Drew Garabo, and he later went into radio and is now a morning-show host on a rock station in Orlando. I listen to his show almost every morning, and a few weeks ago he told the story of that joke on the air. My jaw just about hit the floor.

Turns out Drew's manager at the time was a HUUUUGE Penn State fan, recognized Lou out in the seating area, and told Drew to go tell Lou that joke. Drew didn't want to make his manager angry, so he went ahead with it... and drew ICY stares from the entire table. He later said to his manager, "I don't think he liked that very much."

Follow-up... a couple of weeks after Lou's Sugar Bowl win, Lou was right back in that same restaurant, and by sheer luck, Drew was his waiter again. At the end of the meal, Lou left Drew a HUUUUGE tip and a note saying "Thanks for the joke!"

Just an odd bit of trivia for your random enjoyment.

 

[NDAlumSon]

That's a great find Untitled. I remember that. How appropo at this moment too.
I'll be looking for Lou to relay some of those tidbits from the studio once ND & UF are designated to meet again in this seasons Sugar Bowl.
That's right....look for Florida to upset Arkansas Saturday.

 

[jerseyborn1971]

True story... the restaurant was actually one in the Orlando area; apparently Lou had a second home down there at the time. The waiter's name was Drew Garabo, and he later went into radio and is now a morning-show host on a rock station in Orlando. I listen to his show almost every morning, and a few weeks ago he told the story of that joke on the air. My jaw just about hit the floor.

Turns out Drew's manager at the time was a HUUUUGE Penn State fan, recognized Lou out in the seating area, and told Drew to go tell Lou that joke. Drew didn't want to make his manager angry, so he went ahead with it... and drew ICY stares from the entire table. He later said to his manager, "I don't think he liked that very much."

Follow-up... a couple of weeks after Lou's Sugar Bowl win, Lou was right back in that same restaurant, and by sheer luck, Drew was his waiter again. At the end of the meal, Lou left Drew a HUUUUGE tip and a note saying "Thanks for the joke!"

Just an odd bit of trivia for your random enjoyment.

That was Garabo?! I didn't know that. I haven't listened to him much in the morning since he brought on Savanah. I just don't like her. That's funny, that Garabo was the waiter.

 

[GREENJERSEYS'07]

nice,but you had to bring up that tennessee game.Didn't bettis drop a pass inside the 5 that could have put the irish up 42-7 at the half?
I only have watched that game once and only would care to see the first half ever again.

 

[Vince Young]

That was Garabo?! I didn't know that. I haven't listened to him much in the morning since he brought on Savanah. I just don't like her. That's funny, that Garabo was the waiter.

It was eerie, hearing him get into the story, 'coz of course we've all heard the story of that snotty waiter and the Cheerios joke, right? So Drew's setting up the story... waiter in a restaurant in Florida, Lou Holtz, early 90s, right before ND played Florida in the Sugar Bowl... nah, couldn't be... could it? And then he drops the Cheerios joke, and I just about drive off the road.

And think about how many Notre Dame fans think of that waiter as the villain in the story, and then it turns out it wasn't even his joke!

And then Lou, classy as always when Drew is his waiter a month after. If I were Lou, I would've been doin' some SERIOUS gloating, because I'm just that much of a jackass. But what does Lou do? Leaves a huge tip and a thank-you note. Priceless!

But yeah, I thought Drew sounded better with Mel Taylor as his sidekick, but Savanah's a bigger name in Orlando radio. Can't really blame them for grabbing her up and demoting Mel to afternoon drive. And hey, in the few months Savanah's been on with Drew, I think her IQ has gone up at least 2 points.

"Now you know... the rrrest of the story!"

 

[jiggafini19]

A Notre Dame-Florida 2007 Sugar Bowl rematch would be cool, but Florida could have a tough time beating Arkansas without Harvin and Wynn. One or both could miss the Arkansas game.

 

[Folsteam_Ahead]

i was at the sugar bowl that year. one of the top 3 experiences of my life. bettis was the man. we were sitting so far away that it looked like he would run into the stuffed line and magically appear on the other side sprinting 50 yards toward the endzone.

sidenote: weis should insist that his players wear those enormous shoulder pads. good times

 

[HoffVir]

ND tied Michigan in 92, right? The Brooks TD run?

I would never have forgotten the waitress' Cheerios line, but I had never heard Lou's reply. That is classic and adds to the greatness. You go Lou.

 

[FleaFlicker]

BC in 93 was the day my childhood offically ended...

I agree with that one.

I was in an 8th grade basketball game. It was halftime, and I heard an uproar of Nebraska fans. I asked what happened, and they told me that ND just lost to Boston College.

My heart sank. I had started the game like 5/5, and in the second half, I probably played the worst half of junior high basketball ever conceived.

 

[jerseyborn1971]

And hey, in the few months Savanah's been on with Drew, I think her IQ has gone up at least 2 points.

That's why I don't like listening to her anymore. She was entertaining playing dumber than she is as the white trashy girl. She is not so entertaining trying to play smarter than she actually is.

 

[sonomairishfan]

ND tied Michigan in 92, right? The Brooks TD run?

I would never have forgotten the waitress' Cheerios line, but I had never heard Lou's reply. That is classic and adds to the greatness. You go Lou.

i knew the chief of police in south bend at that time. (girlfriends dad, talk about intimidating) he gave me field passes for that game. that hit happened right in front of me. the sound of the hit was like a car wreck. incredible! he was out cold, but he held the ball!!!!

i remember watching the UM linemen warming up for that game. they were massive, especially to a high school punk like myself at the time.

one of the best games i ever saw in person. how could it not be sitting 10 feet from the team? except the booing of lou at the end for running out the clock rather than passing to get down field.

the last tie in the history of ND football. fitting it was against the team that taught us how to play the game.

 

[weisguys_9]

I don't know if anyone saw this, but some guy on sportscenter was just saying how we don't deserve the sugar bowl or any bcs bid.

 

[HoffVir]

Pat Forde can ... well he can do a lot of things I won't say here

 

[HoffVir]

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[HoffVir]

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[moc182]

Wow, thats weird. Too bad Arkansas's gonna roll.