If you google ‘the catch’ be sure and add football because a bunch of non-football things come up such as restaurants and television programs. But, googling ‘the catch football’ brings up Clemson ex and the late Dwight Clark when he was a San Francisco 49er and they beat the Dallas Cowboys in the playoffs. That was in 1982.
But, way before the NFL stole the name, ‘the Catch’, Robin Weber of Notre Dame made ‘the Catch’ to elevate the Fighting Irish to national champions in the crazy 1973 college football season.
Former football players, and coaches, as well as anyone else that has ever been involved with college football, is reluctant to talk to a blogger such as me. When I first started this blog a few years ago, I was extremely eager to interview famous players or coaches, and was disappointed to find out that nobody would respond. I should have known that ahead of time from the businesses that I have been involved with. People, in general, do not want to respond to calls, or emails. But, nobody and I mean nobody responded to anything I tried.
But, former Notre Dame tight end Robin Weber did respond.
1973 was an unusual season like no others that I can remember. There were 7 unbeaten teams at the end of the regular season. After the bowls were all over, there were still 6 undefeated schools.
The beginning of the more than fascinating football season of 1973 had defending national champion USC at number 1. Ohio State followed at number 2, then Texas and Nebraska, followed by Michigan to round out the top 5.
At 6, the Associated Press poll had Alabama, then Penn State, Notre Dame, Tennessee and UCLA to finish the top 10.
Interestingly, Oklahoma with brand new coach and bootlegger’s boy Barry Switzer not yet tested was ranked 12th.
Moving ahead to the end of the season and the bowl games looming, Bear Bryant’s Alabama Crimson Tide was sitting at the top spot with an impressive 11-0 record.
Oklahoma was on probation and ineligible for a bowl game, but they were ranked 2nd. with their 10-0-1 record. Following the Sooners was the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame at 3rd with an unbeaten 10-0 standing.
At 9-0-1 and coming off of a huge tie against Michigan, was Ohio State ranked 4th and their rivals, the Wolverines were 10-0-1 and ranked 5th.
Penn State had been unbeaten in 1968, 1969 and they were unbeaten again here in 1973 and still weren’t getting a lot of respect and ranked 6th.
Rounding out the top 10 were 9-1-1 USC, 8-2 Texas, 9-2 UCLA and 10-1 Arizona State.
Ranked 15th and never to get the respect they deserved was a really good unbeaten Miami of Ohio. They were never going to be in the discussion for national title games and their competition was less than desirable, but they beat an SEC team in their bowl game.
Yes, Oklahoma, Ohio State and Michigan all had ties on their records, but how many teams end any given season with no losses on their records? Alabama, Oklahoma, Notre Dame, Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State and Miami of Ohio all had zero losses on their records in 1973.
The SEC champions went to the Sugar Bowl and since Alabama was the top-rated team in the country and also the SEC champion, they were able to play 3rd ranked Notre Dame for the national title. 2nd ranked Oklahoma was unable to play in a bowl game because of probation and 4th ranked Ohio State was locked in with the Rose Bowl and matched up with 7th ranked USC.
Back in these years, only the Big 10 champion was allowed to go to a Rose Bowl and 5th ranked Michigan was forced to stay home because of the votes of other Big 10 Athletic Directors who had voted for Ohio State to represent the conference.
Penn State was an independent and would have played Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl. But, instead, they drew 13th ranked LSU.
On December 31st, 1973 the top-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide was trailing the Fighting Irish by a single point late in the game, 23-24. Notre Dame had just kicked a short field goal to take the lead.
Alabama had a good kickoff return to take the ball out to their own 40-yard line. But, a loss on first down, a missed pass on second and a sack by sensational freshman Ross Browner on third left the Bama offense in 4th and 20 from their own 30-yard line.
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However, Bama fans were excited because that sensational freshman Ross Browner had hit the Bama punter, which was a roughing the punter penalty. It was 15 yards on the penalty, but it was not an automatic first down. So, since Bama had Notre Dame backed up to their own 1-yard line and they had a chance at a safety, or getting the ball back with some time left over to win the game.
There wasn’t a lot of time left on the clock, 3 minutes exactly. But, the Bear was confident in his
defense.
On first down, Notre Dame’s running back Wayne Bullock ran the ball up to the 4 yard line and the clock was running. Second down run took the ball out to about the 6, and with the clock moving closer to the 2 minute mark, the Bear calls a timeout.
This is what he was looking for when he punted the ball and it stopped at the one yard line. It was now 3rd and about 5. Notre Dame would probably be conservative and run the ball. Alabama had a time out left and they would stop the run and stop the clock and force the Fighting Irish to punt the ball out of their own endzone. Alabama could go for the block, but all they would need was a field goal to win it.
But, hold everything. Consensus All American and future Pro Football Hall of Fame tight end Dave Casper jumped before the snap, putting Notre Dame half the distance to the goal line at about the 3 yard line. Now, it was 3rd and 8 and things were looking up for Alabama.
Notre Dame lined up with a tight formation and two tight ends. Alabama countered with 9 men right up on the line of scrimmage, 9 in a box, if you will.
All World tight end Dave Casper was on the right side and huge Robin Weber was on the other.
Everybody expected Notre Dame to try and run for it, but Irish quarterback Tom Clements dropped back to throw. The pass was probably supposed to go to Dave Casper. But, Casper was covered and Clements looked over and saw a wide open Weber. With Weber coming in with no catches on the season, nobody was considering him, but Clements laid the ball right over Weber’s shoulder and Weber held onto it like a pro.
It was first down for the Fighting Irish and with a new set of downs and Alabama was out of time outs, the play basically ended the ball game.
Notre Dame won the game 24-23 and finished with an 11-0 record.
It was up to the voters to decide who was the true national championship, but Notre Dame had beaten the top ranked team.
Ohio State blew a good USC team out in the Rose Bowl, 42-21. Oklahoma didn’t get to play, and neither did Michigan. Penn State beat LSU in the Orange Bowl, 16-9.
Miami of Ohio, while never in the chase, remained unbeaten as well with a 16-7 win over Florida in the Tangerine Bowl.
When all the skies stood still in attention, the final poll came out with Notre Dame officially the national champions of the 1973 season.
To think that none of that would have been possible without one of the more famous plays in Notre Dame football history.
The Catch!!
Thank you, Robin Weber, for that reception for a first down that helped your guys win the title.
Memories.