End of an Era

When Frank Leahy predicted that his Notre Dame team would drop several games this season, rival coaches laughed hollowly. Since its defeat by the Great Lakes Naval Training Station team in December 1945, Notre Dame had won 36 games, tied two (Army and Southern California), lost none. In its opener this year, Notre Dame won No. 37. It was the most memorable unbeaten streak since Fielding H. ("Hurry Up") Yost's "point-a-minute" Michigan teams took 55, tied one, between 1901 and 1905.*

Last weekend, Notre Dame was a solid 20-point favorite over once-beaten (by Texas, 34-26) Purdue. Coach Leahy recalled that two years before, Notre Dame had barely squeaked by Purdue, 28-27, then croaked his weekly prophecy: "It figures to be a very close game."

Within minutes after the kickoff, it became plain to the 56,748 rabid fans in Notre Dame Stadium that Frank Leahy had finally spoken a mouthful. Purdue Coach Stu Holcomb, onetime assistant to Army's master strategist Red Blaik, had drilled his Boilermakers to peak precision. Behind their own hard-charging line, Purdue's backs ripped a dazed Notre Dame forward wall to shreds. At halftime Purdue led 21-0.

In the third quarter, All-America Quarterback Bob Williams got Notre Dame moving with a short touchdown pass. When Notre Dame made it 21-14, at the start of the fourth period, win No. 38 still looked possible. But Purdue bounced right back with a 56-yard scoring pass. That was the game, 28-14.

Frank Leahy delivered a statesmanlike opinion: "The entire world will be watching how we take adversity. It is a real test of real people to lose like champions."

Other college gridiron victors last week:

P: In Norman, Okla., the University of Oklahoma, 34-28, over Texas A. & M., to stretch its victory string, now the longest in the U.S., to 23 games.

P: In West Point, N.Y., powerhouse Army, 41-7, over Penn State, extending Army's record for unbeaten games to 22.

P: In East Lansing, Mich., underdog Maryland, 34-7, over Michigan State, which earlier last week had been ranked the No. 2 team in the U.S. (after Notre Dame).

* Though not the longest. Between 1907 and 1917, the University of Washington, playing less formidable schedules, went through 63 games without a defeat.

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