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Dan Devine
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=== Notre Dame === [[File:Dan Devine, 1976.png|thumb|Devine in 1976]] Devine had been a leading candidate for the head coaching job at [[Notre Dame Fighting Irish football|Notre Dame]] in 1964 when [[Ara Parseghian]] was hired. When approached for the job following Parseghian's resignation a decade later, Devine accepted immediately, joking that it was probably the shortest job interview in history. In his six seasons at Notre Dame, Devine compiled a 53β16β1 mark (.764). His lasting achievement came midway through this run when the [[1977 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team|Fighting Irish]] won the 1977 national championship, led by junior quarterback [[Joe Montana]]. The regular season was highlighted by the Irish's 21β17 come-from-behind win over Clemson at Death Valley when Devine repeatedly gave the middle finger salute to the raucous home crowd. The championship season was completed with a convincing 38β10 win in the [[1978 Cotton Bowl Classic]] over previously top-ranked [[1977 Texas Longhorns football team|Texas]], led by [[Heisman Trophy]] winner [[Earl Campbell]]. The win vaulted the Irish from fifth to first in the polls. Earlier in the season, before the annual game against [[USC Trojans football|USC]] on October 22, Devine changed the team's home jerseys from [[navy blue]] & white to [[kelly green]] & gold, which would remain for the rest of his time at the school. Devine also added names to the players' jerseys on a permanent basis when he took over at Notre Dame. Previously, names had been included on jerseys only during bowl games. (The traditional navy blue & white jerseys without names returned in the 1980s under [[Lou Holtz]].) Devine's teams won three bowl games, including consecutive Cotton Bowl Classics. In the [[1979 Cotton Bowl Classic]], the Irish trailed 34β12 with 7:27 remaining in the game. They rallied for 23 unanswered points behind ailing senior quarterback [[Joe Montana]] for a 35β34 victory over [[Houston Cougars football|Houston]]. The game, played in an unseasonal storm of freezing sleet and rain, became part of college football folklore, referred to as the [[Chicken Soup Game]]. Because Devine had the unenviable task of following a legend, he came under heavy scrutiny while at Notre Dame, and it was felt that Devine was never fully embraced by the Notre Dame community, despite winning a national championship. After a 5β2 start in his first season, rumors of incompetence were circulated and that Devine would be dismissed and replaced by [[Don Shula]] or even [[Ara Parseghian]] (who went so far as to say he would not return to coaching under any circumstances). Even on the day of the 1977 USC game, "Dump Devine" bumper stickers were being sold outside Notre Dame Stadium. Devine also lost to his old program, a shocking 3β0 defeat to Missouri at South Bend in 1978. Devine was involved in a game while at Notre Dame whose ending resulted in a rule change still in effect today. On September 15, 1979, the Irish faced the Michigan Wolverines in Ann Arbor in their season opener. With six seconds remaining, Michigan lined up for a game-winning field goal attempt. Notre Dame linebacker Bob Crable ran onto the backs of offensive lineman [[Tim Foley (offensive tackle)|Tim Foley]] and defensive end Scott Zettek and was able to block the kick, preserving a 12β10 Irish victory.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/college/notre-dame/2018/08/28/notre-dame-football-1979-blocked-kick-sticks-out-michigan-rivalry/841716002/|title=A 1979 blocked field goal remains one of the defining moments of Notre Dame-Michigan football rivalry}}</ref> A new rule was implemented the following season that prohibited this tactic. On August 15, 1980, Devine announced that he would be leaving Notre Dame at the end of the 1980 season, saying that he wanted to spend more time with his wife. Notre Dame named [[Gerry Faust]] as Devine's successor on November 24, 1980.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1980/11/25/page/45/article/fausts-prayers-are-answered-by-notre-dame|title = Chicago Tribune β Historical Newspapers}}</ref> At the time, Devine's Irish were enjoying a surprisingly [[1980 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team|successful season]], with a 9β0β1 record and No. 2 ranking in the polls, behind only [[1980 Georgia Bulldogs football team|Georgia]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://collegepollarchive.com/football/ap/seasons.cfm?appollid=522#.WcKebtVSxEZ|title = November 24, 1980 Football Polls β College Poll Archive β Historical College Football, Basketball, and Softball Polls and Rankings}}</ref> However, after Faust's hiring was announced, Notre Dame lost its regular season finale at rival [[1980 USC Trojans football team|USC]], 20β3 and then lost the [[1981 Sugar Bowl|Sugar Bowl]] to Georgia, 17β10, giving the Bulldogs their first national championship and spoiling Devine's final game as a head football coach.
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