This week's Throwback Thursday takes us back to September 29, 1951, when the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame delivered a stunning performance against the Indiana Hoosiers. Coming off a tough season in 1950, Frank Leahy's squad entered the game with many unknowns, as 30 players had yet to play on a collegiate gridiron. However, under the bright lights of Notre Dame Stadium, the Irish erased any doubts with a commanding 48-6 victory. Led by sophomore fullback Neil Worden's record-breaking four-touchdown second quarter, the Irish turned their season opener into a statement game, setting the tone for a new chapter in Notre Dame football history. Since I'm so excited about Notre Dame heading to the playoffs, I'm dedicating this week and next week's Throwback Thursday posts to classic Notre Dame vs. Indiana games. Let's kick it off with this unforgettable showdown from 1951!
The below excerpt is from the December 7th, 1951 issue of the Notre Dame football review written by Bill Londo.
Notre Dame, Ind., Sept. 29 -- The question mark Notre Dame football team became an exclamation point today as Frank Leahy's Fighting Irish swamped a good band of Indiana Hoosiers, 48-6. A record-breaking second quarter in which the Irish tallied five times stunned the crowd of 55,790 who had come expecting a close battle.
The young Irish, 30 of whom had never before performed on a collegiate gridiron, were paced by a sophomore hurricane, Fullback Neil Worden. The Milwaukee youngster scored four consecutive touchdowns in the furious second period to set a modern Notre Dame individual mark.
The victory was an anniversary gift to Leahy who was watching his 100th game as a head coach, and he was carried off the field after the contest by his happy warriors. It was a particularly sweet win, for Indiana had dealt Leahy's lads one of their most decisive defeats in the 1950 campaign.
Notre Dame scored early in the first quarter on a 75-yard march that took just ten plays. The "I" formation, a well kept secret in the four weeks of blacked out practice which preceded the game, set up the TD. Quarterback John Mazur lined his backfield mates, John Petitbon, Bill Barrett, and Worden, in single file behind the center. The arrangement so baffled the Hoosiers that Mazur's pass to Captain Jim Mutscheller was completed for 40 yards to the Indiana six. Barrett scored four plays later.
That was all for the first quarter. But in the second Notre Dame made up for many of the insults that had been heaped upon the Irish last year. A bad pass from center by Hoosier Mel Beckett gave Notre Dame the ball deep in Indiana territory, and Worden started the touchdown marathon by crashing six yards for the score. Three minutes later he was back again on the pay side of the Hoosier goal, this time on a buck from the one.
Linebacker Dick Szymanski kept the party going by recovering a fumble on the 17. Barrett squirmed to the five and Worden went over. Then after defensive halfback John Lattner had intercepted Lou D'Achille's pass Worden went 11 yards up the middle to end his touchdown binge.
Lattner scored one of his own a moment later to cap a 44-yard drive which finished the most productive quarter in Irish history. Menil Mavraides converted after all the first half scores, and the Irish led 42-0 when the referee's whistle gave the slightly bewildered Hoosiers time to catch their breath.
In the second half South Bend's Bobby Robertson finally gave the down-staters something to cheer about as he circled the Irish right end for the Hoosiers' only marker. A D'Achille to Gene Gedman aerial put Clyde Smith's boys into position.
Notre Dame got that touchdown back in the final period. Barrett took Robertson's punt at midfield and raced back to the 27 behind some fine blocking. Del Gander counted on a short plunge to finish the scoring, as Mavraides missed the final point.
Statistically the Irish had a big edge. Leahy's defensive lineup, composed mostly of underclassmen and directed by Jack Alessandrini, limited the Hoosiers to 93 yards rushing and harassed D'Achille so that his passing was ineffective. Notre Dame gained 214 yards on the ground, and Mazur outpassed D'Achille by two yards
The win was the 18th for the Irish in 24 games that have been played since 1898, and was the 17th consecutive opening day triumph.
The 1951 matchup against Indiana was more than just a season opener; it was a pivotal moment for Notre Dame football. Frank Leahy's 100th game as a head coach became a celebration of resilience and renewal, with his players carrying him off the field in triumph. From Neil Worden's standout performance to the team's relentless defense, the game was a showcase of young talent stepping up to restore the Fighting Irish's storied legacy. It's a reminder of Notre Dame's ability to rise above challenges, making moments like these unforgettable in the annals of college football.