Game Watch
Saturday, November 30, at 1:30 p.m.
The next Football Game Watch Party will be this Saturday, November 30th when the Irish take on the Trojans of the University of Southern California. We will assemble at Tom’s Watch Bar at Coors Field to root the Irish on to victory and continue our march to the College Football Playoffs. Kickoff will be at 1:30 p.m. Denver time. The game is being broadcast on CBS and will air in Denver at 1:30 p.m.
See you there - Go IRISH - Beat the TROJANS
Notre Dame Football Trivia Time
Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig at 1927 ND vs USC Pregame Banquet
The Irish and the Trojans - Another One of the Most Storied Rivalries in Football History
The American college football rivalry between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team of the University of Notre Dame and USC Trojans football team of the University of Southern California, customarily played on the Saturday following Thanksgiving Day when the game is in Los Angeles or on the second or third Saturday of October when the game is in South Bend, Indiana.
The rivalry began in 1926 and is considered one of the fiercest in college football. The rivalry game has been played every year from 1926 to the present, with the exception of 1943–1945 when the game was cancelled during World War II and in 2020 when the Pac-12 Conference cancelled all non-conference games in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.[4] The pandemic therefore interrupted a streak of 73 consecutive years in which the game had been played. The 2021 matchup marked the first time in series history that two consecutive games between the rivals were played in South Bend, although the games were not played in consecutive years.
Notre Dame and USC have been among the most successful programs in college football, with the schools having won a combined 24 national championships and 15 Heisman Trophies (8 for USC—the most in college football—and 7 for Notre Dame) through the 2023 season. Moreover, both schools have fielded a high number of Consensus All-Americans (102 for Notre Dame—the most in college football—and 82 for USC), College Football Hall of Famers (46 from Notre Dame and 43 from USC), and Pro Football Hall of Famers (13 from each). The rivals account for the highest numbers of players selected in the NFL Draft of any school; Notre Dame has had 546 players taken, and USC has had 530. No rivalry in college football accounts for as many combined honors.
The teams play for the Jeweled Shillelagh, a trophy that goes home with the winning team each year. Notre Dame leads the all-time series 49–37–5 and also leads 34–30–3 since the introduction of the trophy. Despite many close games, the series has seen dominant runs by both sides: USC went 12–2–2 from 1967 through 1982, Notre Dame went undefeated (11–0–1) from 1983 through 1995, and USC went undefeated (8–0) from 2002 through 2009. However, while Notre Dame and USC have defeated the other in landmark games enabling one of them to move on to a national title, the two teams have also played spoiler to each other several times.
The Jeweled Shillelagh
WHO: #5 Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs Trojans
WHEN: Saturday, November 30, 2024, 1:30 p.m.
WHERE: Tom’s Watch Bar, 1601 19th Street, Unit 101 Denver, CO 80202
TELEVISION: CBS
PARKING: Good news! We have made it easier (and cheaper) for you to park. The parking garage immediately across the street is 1899 Wynkoop Street. If you want to park there, see these detailed instructions; it is necessary to follow the instructions to get a discounted rate. You can also reserve and pay for a spot right now on the Spot Hero app, which is a really impressive piece of technology. (Atrium is not on the app, so I park at the Dairy Block Garage, a block away.)
BRING: Money for the traditional door prizes, and a designated Domer-driver; those $1 off 22-ounce drafts for our club don’t drink themselves!
LIGHT RAIL: Three blocks from Union Station! Several people, including seniors, have commented that the walk from Union Station to Tom’s Watch Bar is very easy:
OUR VERY OWN VIC LOMBARDI ‘91
VIC’S IRISH FOOTBALL PICK
NOTRE DAME 28 - USC 20
