Although I'm a lifelong fan of college football, I never followed these two teams, and until recently was not familiar with their '46 game. The background of this game, those two teams, and individual players in that game is just incredible. So many overachievers, including several recently returned combat veterans. Johnny Lujack, who only recently (2023) passed away at the age of 98, is a great example. Valedictorian, West Point appointee (he chose ND instead), Navy combat veteran, four sport letterman (on at least one occasion he played in a varsity baseball game and track meet on the same day), two way football player (halfback, QB, DB, and kicker), AP Athlete of the Year, Heisman winner, All Pro for the Chicago Bears (QB, DB, and kicker), and an NFL Hall of Fame inductee.
This was produced by Golden Dome Productions, which doesn't exist any more. Members of the 1946, 47, 48, and 1949 teams -- led by Leon Hart -- pooled together resources and organized the effort to track down game footage from this era to put on video. You can sometimes find the videos on eBay. "The Golden Era" is the most commonly used title.
Both teams were offensive juggernauts that averaged over 30 points per game. Call it confidence in their offensive ability or whatever, but neither team liked kicking FGs, although that wasn't uncommon in those days. Army hadn't attempted a FG since the '43 season, and according to Johnny Lujack, ND's place kicker wasn't even dressed for the game. It's just one of the ways that era in college football was very different from today.
It was also one of the earliest college football games on network television, although the "network" consisted of Schenectady, New York City, Philadelphia, and maybe Washington.
Notre Dame was indeed wearing green for this game. There are a few color photographs of the game around. The Life magazine cover photo of Johnny Lujack shows the exact same uniform the Irish wore vs. Army in 1946.
This was played at Yankee Stadium...people think of Army football as a joke but back then they were untouchable...ND played one of the greatest games in their history just to stalemate Army
Well actually, Army drove down to the 15 yard line on one drive, but the video didn't mention that for some reason. They didn't try a field goal, either. The best thing would have been for them to share, but there was no coaches poll back then, so only the AP could choose one.
@ mcoltrane5 I listened to an audio of the game some years ago (cannot remember where). You are right, Army got to ND's 14 or 15 in the 1st qtr. Why neither team tried a FG during the game is very questionable. I think each side thought it would take more than a FG to win. Two final thoughts: When Johnny Lujak tackled Doc Blanchard in the open field in the 3rd qtr. preventing an Army TD, it was the only time in Blanchard's career that he was tackled in the open field going for a TD. Lujak was told that many years later, & he said it's probably good he didn't know that at the time because he might not have made the tackle on Blanchard. And...Blanchard was not 100% healthy as he had hurt his knee earlier in the season.
@@russellnewton1229 apparently Blaik and Leahy hated each other, at least occording to some sources, and both felt that a field goal was for sissies lol. In a game of this magnitude, with those defenses, I would have taken any points available. But football and the attitude toward football was just different back then lol
I would love to see the complete game. Army was the team to beat back then. Glenn Davis and Doc Blanchard were two of the best backs to ever play the game, and Army had crushed ND in the past. ND wanted to show the world that it was as good as Army. The stage was set. The game lived up to every expectation. It was The Game of the Century! My dad loved the Army team. He often spoke of how they beat Notre Dame. I miss and love you dad. George V. Hill (1931 - 2007) George Vreeland Hill
Anyone who ridicules Notre Dame putting any of the service academies on its schedule doesn't know much about college football, in either history or meaning. Scheduling a Div II-A "cupcake" team is one thing; Appalachian State vs. Michigan comes to mind, eh? But Army/Navy/Air Force are quite simply "just OK football teams" composed of young men who are UNQUESTIONABLY able to kick your ass in real life. They don't dominate in football because they are supposed to dominate the battlefield.
Football was just a different game back then. Smaller players, much more running, T-formation most of the time with 3 in the backfield and no receivers wide. Just different.
Why is "anchors aweigh" , the fight song of Army's biggest rival as well as a big rival of Notre Dame, playing? Kind of weird for Navy's song to be featured.
I assume it was for the many Navy vets who played in this game, not the least of which was ND's all-everything three position player and USN vet Johnny Lujack.
No prima-donna quarterbacks in these days. Johnny Lujack and Arnold Tucker both played defensive back as well, and were known for their vicious hitting.
Great stuff. Thanks for sharing. They really should have had a co-national championship that year with those two teams. Too bad also they didn't have the OT format we have today.
I go with Nebraska-Oklahoma in 1971. MSU-ND in 1966 probably generated the most excitement leading up to a game in the second half of the 20th Century.
dabbott14 - sorry to have took so long to respond but you have a great point. Georgia had a perfect 10-0 record that year plus a Sugar Bowl win. And they played some good teams so it was not a soft schedule. Georgia would have been a worthy well deserving National Champion in college football in 1946.
Is there a full reel of this game? They have highlights, so someone may have a copy of the game. From seeing this footage, I can definitely see that it lived up to the hype. It's fitting that the two best teams in the country tied 0-0.
I'm almost inclined to agree with you. Without the tangible factor of a win to consider, voters instead saw that ND was at least in a position to put points up on the board and that Army had a tougher time against the same Navy team the Irish shut out 28-0. Plus, I think voters were reluctant to name any team as a 3-peat national champion. But I agree, if head-to-head competition matters, Notre Dame and Army were both the best teams that year.
I'd bet not. Finding enough clips to create the video set was said to be quite an undertaking. But for this game, you never know because it was so popular.
I know it's black & white but it would be far-fetched to assume Notre Dame was wearing green jerseys? Would be great to see color photos from that day!
One of the unfortunate aspects of this game was that integration was yet to really take hold as it did later on. Leon Hart of Notre Dame said that the Irish had the greatest collection of talent ever assembled. HOW?! How good could any all white team be? Positions of speed are dominated by black athletes. Blanchard and Davis wouldnt make a pimple on the bum of Barry Sanders or Jim Brown. Just as the best defensive backs, receivers and many other positions are dominated by black athletes. There have been many splendid white players. That doesnt change the athletic edge black players had in numerous positions. Its only fair and honest to extend that well-deserved praise.
Coach Leahy wouldn't have it. Too competitive and felt field goals were akin to the offense copping out. But years later in the locker room, he said out of the blue, "if we'd only kicked a field goal!"
@cougarbart I think you better look again my friend,the Irish were undefeated in 1946,47,48,and 49! They national champions in 46,47,and 49 and had a record of 36-0-2 in those 4 year's! I think you need to study your football history!!!
I love football from this era, as well as the pre-WWII stuff. Two-way players (I hate unlimited substitution), big defensive battles, relatively little passing, no overtime, big crowds on frozen days. This is what football was all about. The modern game is tame by comparison. How many major plays did Lujack feature in, both offensively and defensively?
Now football is about commercial breaks and how much commercial junk they can cram on the jerseys and helmets. And baseball caps today are even worse. It is disgusting.
Just listened to the original broadcast of this game by NBC & Bill Stern. Stern mentioned that ND was wearing their green jerseys. How much better football would be today if players still had to play both sides of the ball. You wouldn't have 400 pound steroids freaks, you'd have real athletes who had to play the game. Army's QB Tucker makes two interceptions. ND's QB Lujack makes a game saving tackle on defense. But it was a pretty sloppy game played in what Stern described as ideal weather.
+RRaquello, +Mike Whitney, I disagree. I played on a team where I played on both sides of the ball. Years later, I realized that many members of our team did not get to play at all because of the rule. I also realize now how much depth was lost in the single platoon system: you were not able to hone your offense or defense in ways coaches can now. Because of that, you were able only to use many fewer plays, both offensive and defensive. Teams were able to sort of guess what the other team was going to do next. The last factor, and it is a real one, is that exhaustion, despite team conditioning, was a real problem. We had several guys collapse on long runs because they were playing in minute 42 of a 48 minute game. I also disagree with Mike Whitney, below, that athletes were better in those days. There's just simply no data or anecdotal data that supports that statement.
How much better they were?!? Are you serious??? 😂🤣😂 these players are terrible compared to the athletes that play now. There isnt a single black player on the field here!!!
+Robby Bonter Coach Leahy would later wonder the same thing. John Lujack has said in interviews that it simply wasn't acceptable for Leahy to settle for a field goal, especially against then arch-rival Army and Earl Blaik. Who knows how the rest of the game would play out. What would have happened on the ensuing kick-off? How would field position change for Army?
Leahy's stance was bogus in that his team KICKED extra points, rather than run them in, so what is wrong with attempting a short-field kick worth 3 points? Nothing. No excuses, that has to be the worst head coaching decision until Ara P. mucked it up for ND vs. MSU in 1966, ironically, the next "game of the century" following the 1946 GOTC.
Incredible footage! Loved every second of it! Go Irish! Go Army!
the only time ever that a college football game had four Heisman Trophies winners
Although I'm a lifelong fan of college football, I never followed these two teams, and until recently was not familiar with their '46 game. The background of this game, those two teams, and individual players in that game is just incredible. So many overachievers, including several recently returned combat veterans. Johnny Lujack, who only recently (2023) passed away at the age of 98, is a great example. Valedictorian, West Point appointee (he chose ND instead), Navy combat veteran, four sport letterman (on at least one occasion he played in a varsity baseball game and track meet on the same day), two way football player (halfback, QB, DB, and kicker), AP Athlete of the Year, Heisman winner, All Pro for the Chicago Bears (QB, DB, and kicker), and an NFL Hall of Fame inductee.
This was produced by Golden Dome Productions, which doesn't exist any more. Members of the 1946, 47, 48, and 1949 teams -- led by Leon Hart -- pooled together resources and organized the effort to track down game footage from this era to put on video. You can sometimes find the videos on eBay. "The Golden Era" is the most commonly used title.
I lisented to the game on the radio,it was before TV,I think it was Bill Stern or maybe Harry Wismer,the game was carried on NBC and ABC radio.
Didn't Notre Dame have someone who could have made a four yard kick?
Both teams were offensive juggernauts that averaged over 30 points per game. Call it confidence in their offensive ability or whatever, but neither team liked kicking FGs, although that wasn't uncommon in those days. Army hadn't attempted a FG since the '43 season, and according to Johnny Lujack, ND's place kicker wasn't even dressed for the game. It's just one of the ways that era in college football was very different from today.
It was also one of the earliest college football games on network television, although the "network" consisted of Schenectady, New York City, Philadelphia, and maybe Washington.
Notre Dame was indeed wearing green for this game. There are a few color photographs of the game around. The Life magazine cover photo of Johnny Lujack shows the exact same uniform the Irish wore vs. Army in 1946.
This was played at Yankee Stadium...people think of Army football as a joke but back then they were untouchable...ND played one of the greatest games in their history just to stalemate Army
In the war years Army could, and did draft the best HS players nation wide ! Army had great teams thru out the 40's.
Well actually, Army drove down to the 15 yard line on one drive, but the video didn't mention that for some reason. They didn't try a field goal, either. The best thing would have been for them to share, but there was no coaches poll back then, so only the AP could choose one.
@ mcoltrane5 I listened to an audio of the game some years ago (cannot remember where). You are right, Army got to ND's 14 or 15 in the 1st qtr. Why neither team tried a FG during the game is very questionable. I think each side thought it would take more than a FG to win.
Two final thoughts: When Johnny Lujak tackled Doc Blanchard in the open field in the 3rd qtr. preventing an Army TD, it was the only time in Blanchard's career that he was tackled in the open field going for a TD. Lujak was told that many years later, & he said it's probably good he didn't know that at the time because he might not have made the tackle on Blanchard.
And...Blanchard was not 100% healthy as he had hurt his knee earlier in the season.
@@russellnewton1229 apparently Blaik and Leahy hated each other, at least occording to some sources, and both felt that a field goal was for sissies lol. In a game of this magnitude, with those defenses, I would have taken any points available. But football and the attitude toward football was just different back then lol
I would love to see the complete game.
Army was the team to beat back then.
Glenn Davis and Doc Blanchard were two of the best backs to ever play the game, and Army had crushed ND in the past.
ND wanted to show the world that it was as good as Army.
The stage was set.
The game lived up to every expectation.
It was The Game of the Century!
My dad loved the Army team.
He often spoke of how they beat Notre Dame.
I miss and love you dad.
George V. Hill (1931 - 2007)
George Vreeland Hill
so very cool !!!
Anyone who ridicules Notre Dame putting any of the service academies on its schedule doesn't know much about college football, in either history or meaning. Scheduling a Div II-A "cupcake" team is one thing; Appalachian State vs. Michigan comes to mind, eh? But Army/Navy/Air Force are quite simply "just OK football teams" composed of young men who are UNQUESTIONABLY able to kick your ass in real life. They don't dominate in football because they are supposed to dominate the battlefield.
Football was just a different game back then. Smaller players, much more running, T-formation most of the time with 3 in the backfield and no receivers wide. Just different.
Why is "anchors aweigh" , the fight song of Army's biggest rival as well as a big rival of Notre Dame, playing? Kind of weird for Navy's song to be featured.
Who decided that the soundtrack would be USNA's "Anchors Aweigh?"
Probably the same one who tossed in Cornell's. Likely a stock disc of college songs.
I assume it was for the many Navy vets who played in this game, not the least of which was ND's all-everything three position player and USN vet Johnny Lujack.
No prima-donna quarterbacks in these days. Johnny Lujack and Arnold Tucker both played defensive back as well, and were known for their vicious hitting.
Terry Brennan, awesome! And he was a good HC prior to the de-emphasisation.
that was cool hope you have more to share
Great stuff. Thanks for sharing. They really should have had a co-national championship that year with those two teams. Too bad also they didn't have the OT format we have today.
Yup. College Football OT wasn't implemented until 1996.
Tickets to this game started at 2895.93 in today's cash
what would really be cool .......if we can get a list of the notre dame players who returned from the war to play ball .....
Looks like the Irish are wearing green it seems.
$200 holy crap
Great video . Please post more. Thanks!
Did I hear this correctly? $200 for a football ticket in 1946???? Isn't that like $20,000 of today's money?
I wonder who Corso picked on Gameday?
I don't think he was alive at the time. Never mind, he's old as fuck
Who produced this?! I didn't think footage existed of this game!
Which one was game of the century ? Texas vs Arkansas? ND vs Army? Oklahoma vs Nebraska ?
I go with Nebraska-Oklahoma in 1971. MSU-ND in 1966 probably generated the most excitement leading up to a game in the second half of the 20th Century.
I'll go with Longhorns 15 - Razorbacks 14. Because it was played in the Centennial year of college football. R.I.P. James Street......
LSU Bama OSU MICHIGAN
THIS IS COLLEGE FOOTBALL!!!!
I wonder if ant of these players graduated
dabbott14 - sorry to have took so long to respond but you have a great point. Georgia had a perfect 10-0 record that year plus a Sugar Bowl win. And they played some good teams so it was not a soft schedule. Georgia would have been a worthy well deserving National Champion in college football in 1946.
Notre Dame should have tried that field goal when they were at the Army 4 yd line.
Do you know if they have a complete game anywhere? I'd pay high dollar for it haha.
Is there a full reel of this game? They have highlights, so someone may have a copy of the game. From seeing this footage, I can definitely see that it lived up to the hype. It's fitting that the two best teams in the country tied 0-0.
I'm almost inclined to agree with you. Without the tangible factor of a win to consider, voters instead saw that ND was at least in a position to put points up on the board and that Army had a tougher time against the same Navy team the Irish shut out 28-0. Plus, I think voters were reluctant to name any team as a 3-peat national champion. But I agree, if head-to-head competition matters, Notre Dame and Army were both the best teams that year.
I'd bet not. Finding enough clips to create the video set was said to be quite an undertaking.
But for this game, you never know because it was so popular.
I know it's black & white but it would be far-fetched to assume Notre Dame was wearing green jerseys? Would be great to see color photos from that day!
In the ESPN CFB encyelopedia, Army is listed as a co-champion with ND. I think the teams should share the title.
Yeah I was there! Naw J/k! All joking aside, players where a tough bunch back then.
Can't believe that Army wasn't on the ND schedule this season...
Army and ND were supposed to play in 2013 at Yankee Stadium but ND back out. :(
One of the unfortunate aspects of this game was that integration was yet to really take hold as it did later on. Leon Hart of Notre Dame said that the Irish had the greatest collection of talent ever assembled. HOW?! How good could any all white team be? Positions of speed are dominated by black athletes. Blanchard and Davis wouldnt make a pimple on the bum of Barry Sanders or Jim Brown. Just as the best defensive backs, receivers and many other positions are dominated by black athletes. There have been many splendid white players. That doesnt change the athletic edge black players had in numerous positions. Its only fair and honest to extend that well-deserved praise.
Coach Leahy wouldn't have it. Too competitive and felt field goals were akin to the offense copping out.
But years later in the locker room, he said out of the blue, "if we'd only kicked a field goal!"
Army wore black jerseys; ND wore blue, so they appear to wear gray here.
Color photographs confirmed that ND actually wore green jerseys for this game.
They should've decided on first downs! ND had more
The Hillary Clinton solution.
@@rentslave 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
"Second period"?
One of the sloppiest games every played - 10 (!) total turnovers.
+Robby Bonter I Agree and This Game Called "The Game Of The Century" is a Perfect Name For a 0-0 Tie!
There might be a reason for that. Both defenses were great, as well. Remember, the stars played both ways.
200$? Each ticket in 1946 wtf ?
"in the early days of November 1946"?
@cougarbart I think you better look again my friend,the Irish were undefeated in 1946,47,48,and 49! They national champions in 46,47,and 49 and had a record of 36-0-2 in those 4 year's! I think you need to study your football history!!!
Did anyone else see the random newspaper flying across the field at 3:29
I love football from this era, as well as the pre-WWII stuff. Two-way players (I hate unlimited substitution), big defensive battles, relatively little passing, no overtime, big crowds on frozen days. This is what football was all about.
The modern game is tame by comparison. How many major plays did Lujack feature in, both offensively and defensively?
Now football is about commercial breaks and how much commercial junk they can cram on the jerseys and helmets. And baseball caps today are even worse. It is disgusting.
Coulda, woulda ND 3 Army 0
this was in the 1940's what do u expect?
Just listened to the original broadcast of this game by NBC & Bill Stern. Stern mentioned that ND was wearing their green jerseys. How much better football would be today if players still had to play both sides of the ball. You wouldn't have 400 pound steroids freaks, you'd have real athletes who had to play the game. Army's QB Tucker makes two interceptions. ND's QB Lujack makes a game saving tackle on defense. But it was a pretty sloppy game played in what Stern described as ideal weather.
Indeed, how much better football was when players played both sides of the ball. By and large, they were better athletes in those days.
You are right, the so-called "Game of the Century" contained 10 (!) turnovers.
+RRaquello, +Mike Whitney, I disagree. I played on a team where I played on both sides of the ball. Years later, I realized that many members of our team did not get to play at all because of the rule. I also realize now how much depth was lost in the single platoon system: you were not able to hone your offense or defense in ways coaches can now. Because of that, you were able only to use many fewer plays, both offensive and defensive. Teams were able to sort of guess what the other team was going to do next. The last factor, and it is a real one, is that exhaustion, despite team conditioning, was a real problem. We had several guys collapse on long runs because they were playing in minute 42 of a 48 minute game. I also disagree with Mike Whitney, below, that athletes were better in those days. There's just simply no data or anecdotal data that supports that statement.
How much better they were?!? Are you serious??? 😂🤣😂 these players are terrible compared to the athletes that play now. There isnt a single black player on the field here!!!
Game of the century my ass, more like sloppiest game of the century
Forth and 2 on Army 4 yard line and ND fails to kick the winning FG, going for the TD, instead? Why???????
+Robby Bonter Coach Leahy would later wonder the same thing. John Lujack has said in interviews that it simply wasn't acceptable for Leahy to settle for a field goal, especially against then arch-rival Army and Earl Blaik. Who knows how the rest of the game would play out. What would have happened on the ensuing kick-off? How would field position change for Army?
Leahy's stance was bogus in that his team KICKED extra points, rather than run them in, so what is wrong with attempting a short-field kick worth 3 points? Nothing.
No excuses, that has to be the worst head coaching decision until Ara P. mucked it up for ND vs. MSU in 1966, ironically, the next "game of the century" following the 1946 GOTC.
wow they sucked back then