Sun Bowl Mania

T-shirt slogan creator reminisces about 1988 matchup

In retrospect, Pat Walsh does feel regret about the thunderbolt of inspiration that found its way onto a T-shirt and helped define one of the greatest rivalries of the 1980s.
He was a junior at Notre Dame in 1988 engaged in the most collegiate of enterprises, selling T-shirts, and he needed a slogan for the Irish’s looming game with Miami.
The actual dorm-room light bulb moment was provided by his friend Joe Frederick, a member of the Notre Dame basketball team.
“There was a lot of publicity of Miami players getting arrested,” said Walsh, now a futures trader living in the Chicago area. “The news would come on and a Miami player was getting arrested for something. Joe said, ‘Catholics vs. Convicts.’
“I said no way, I’ll be called into the Golden Dome office. He said, ‘Yeah, but it would sell 10,000 shirts.’ ”
Notre Dame plays a Miami team that has rebuilt its image in Friday’s Hyundai Sun Bowl and “Catholics vs. Convicts” clearly no longer applies.
Twenty-two years ago, though, it gave a tag to that epic 1988 showdown, which included a pregame scuffle in the tunnel and a 31-30 Notre Dame victory that rates as one of the great college games ever played.
The national media latched on to Walsh’s slogan and made it synonymous with the 1980s version of the rivalry.
“I’m 43 years old and at times I feel bad about it,” Walsh said. “When you think of the moniker, it sounds a little critical of Miami people and I feel bad about that.
“When you’re 22, it’s different.”
Almost immediately, he knew he had captured a perfect storm. That much he figured out the moment he started selling his merchandise.
“I got the first batch of shirts the third week of the season,” Walsh said. “It was 150 shirts. I walked into the dorm, I didn’t get past the foyer before I was surrounded. I sold them as quickly as it took me to get a shirt out and take $10. I sold out in four minutes.
“At that moment I said, ‘I’ve got something here.’ I got my hands on as much money as I could and started putting them out.”
He ended up getting a second printing of 5,000 shirts, which lasted about an hour. And how many millions of dollars did he make?
“I didn’t make a cent,” Walsh said.
That’s because he was in fact called into the Golden Dome office where he was nearly expelled. The university made him hand over all of his profits, which weren’t big to begin with (“Only a couple of thousand dollars,” he said).
He never copyrighted the phrase and two years later someone else made a mint off a new “Convicts vs. Catholics” T-shirt.
Even after these years, Walsh sees how the slogan resonates. He was reminded of that while watching the ESPN documentary “The U” about Miami’s glory years.
“Some of the players were upset about the nickname,” Walsh said. “I was surprised. They loved the bad boy image, but they were (upset) about it. It wasn’t meant to be a cut on them. It was just capturing the moment: the bad boy image vs. the clean-cut image. I never meant it personally.”
Walsh, who has one original T-shirt left, is considering coming to the Hyundai Sun Bowl this year but he isn’t going to reprise the slogan.
He knows 22 years have brought dramatic changes to the Hurricanes’ legacy. Miami’s football team ranks second in the NCAA behind Stanford in graduation rates (81 percent) and has a sterling reputation for on- and off-field behavior over the past four seasons.
Convicts are “not who Miami is anymore,” Walsh said. “They’ve turned it around. It would be disingenuous to put that on Miami in 2010. If I could do something good, it would be to come up with a slogan for a nice rivalry.
“It’s the Catholics vs. other good guys. It’s two great institutions.”
That’s too many words for a T-shirt, but that’s how Walsh feels now.
Bret Bloomquist may be reached at bbloomquist@elpasotimes.com; 546-6359.

Notre Dame vs. Miami: Keys to the game

A look at the big battles between Notre Dame and Miami in the 2010 Hyundai Sun Bowl:

Notre Dame offense vs. Miami defense

Forget Michael Floyd. The Fighting Irish can’t rely on the junior wide receiver, who has caught 73 balls for 916 yards and 10 touchdowns this season, to provide their offensive spark in the Hyundai Sun Bowl. Same goes for Notre Dame receiver Theo Riddick, who is an excellent No. 2. Neither will find much success early on against that Miami secondary, which is ranked No. 2 nationally in pass defense and features potential NFL first-round pick Brandon Harris. Harris, along with Ryan Hill, Vaughn Telemaque, Ray-Ray Armstrong and several others will give up the slants and hitches when they aren’t manned up, but they won’t be prone to the big play at all in Friday’s game.

Up front the Hurricanes feature big-time talent on the defensive line. Allen Bailey and Marcus Forston are monsters. And linebackers Sean Spence and Colin McCarthy can cover sideline-to-sideline. But for all the talent Miami’s front seven has, they are often the victim of their own physical prowess. It’s common to see Miami overpursue against the run. Florida State gashed the Canes for 298 rushing yards in a 45-17 romp. If Notre Dame’s Cierre Wood, who has played well in the absence of Armando Allen, can get going up the field on stretch plays where he can pick his holes and make cutbacks, Miami could find itself bringing safeties into the box to plug the run. That’s when Irish quarterback Tommy Rees can begin making things happen. But if the Notre Dame ground game doesn’t get going, the offense won’t get going. Will be a big challenge for Irish tackle Zack Martin and the No. 97-ranked rushing attack in the country.

Miami offense vs. Notre Dame defense

The Hurricanes have their modern-day version of the Four Horsemen with their stable of running backs — Graig Cooper, Lamar Miller, Damien Berry and Mike James. Any of those guys can start on any other team in the country. Youngster Storm Johnson is part of that group, too. Together, they’ve all gotten playing time this season and have been good for 190 rushing yards per game. They run behind a pretty good offensive line. Tackles Orlando Franklin and Seantrel Henderson are All-ACC players. But the biggest battle up front Friday will be the one fought between center Tyler Horn, and guards Brandon Linder and Brandon Washington, against Notre Dame nose tackle Ian Williams. Williams is coming back from an MCL injury that sidelined him for the last four games of the regular season. Williams is a stellar run plugger. He often lines up slightly shaded over the center and it will be up to Miami’s three guys in the middle to get the proper rub- and scoop-blocks to keep Williams at bay, as well as get to the second level of Notre Dame’s defense, where linebackers Manti Te’o and Brian Smith roam. Both guys are tackling machines and will wreak havoc on Miami’s ground game if left untouched.

In the passing game, the Hurricanes will turn to their junior quarterback Jacory Harris. Harris hasn’t started a game since Oct. 30 against Virginia, a game he exited after sustaining a concussion. His start this week was assured after his backup, Stephen Morris, went down with ankle injury Tuesday in practice. Harris has a beautiful long ball and has shown flashes of brilliance during his three years running the Canes’ offense. But he has also shown a penchant for interceptions. If the Irish can put Harris under duress, he will force balls into tight spots. And a game-changing turnover can be all Notre Dame needs to get an edge in this game. If Harris can protect the football, he has an abundance of talent to get it to — Leonard Hankerson and LaRon Byrd are big, fast, strong receivers. Travis Benjamin is electrifying, and will be a factor in the kicking game, too. The receiving game, however, takes a bit of a hit with the loss of Aldarius Johnson.

Special teams

Notre Dame kicker David Ruffer has been perfect this season. Miami’s Matt Bosher has made 12 of 16. Bosher also handles punting duties for Miami and averages a little over 44 yards per boot. Notre Dame averages 38.

Video: Miami Hurricanes at practice

Video courtesy University of Miami Athletics

No standing-room only tickets for Sun Bowl

Disappointing news for the folks who were counting on standing-room only tickets for this year’s Hyundai Sun Bowl.

Organizers said today that no such tickets would be available this year, citing fire codes.

Standing-room only tickets previously have been sold for Sun Bowl Stadium — in 2008 for UTEP’s regular-season matchup against Texas and for last year’s Brut Sun Bowl featuring Oklahoma and Stanford.

The decision comes after Sun Bowl officials said they would attempt to make a limited number of tickets available after the matchup between Notre Dame and Miami sold out in record time.

The game will be televised nationally on CBS.

Sun Bowl odds and ends

There are a mere 10 days till kickoff in the 77th annual Hyundai Sun Bowl featuring a matchup between Notre Dame and Miami.

Both have already begun preparations for the game Dec. 31 in Sun Bowl Stadium.

Here’s a few odds and ends.

• Notre Dame will know who will be under center for the Hurricanes before kickoff. The Miami Herald reports that Hurricane interim coach Jeff Stoutland will make a decision on a starting quarterback by the time Miami begins practicing in El Paso on Dec. 27.

Junior Jacory Harris started every game for Miami in 2009 and went 5-2 this season before sustaining a concussion against Virginia on Oct. 30. True freshman Stephen Morris filled in, winning two of the next three games before being relieved of duty in Miami’s home finale against South Florida.

The quarterback question has been a hot topic in South Florida ever since. But evidently, it will be answered before New Year’s Eve.

• Stoutland, meanwhile, had another important question answered for him recently — whether he would remain employed after the Sun Bowl.

New Miami coach Al Golden is keeping Stoutland, along with wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator Aubrey Hill and linebackers coach Micheal Barrow for the 2011 season.

Golden has six coaches on his staff for next season. Defensive coordinator Mark D’Onofrio, defensive line coach Jethro Franklin and defensive backs coach Paul Williams — all of whom were with Golden at Temple — were hired last week.

Stoutland will remain the interim head coach for Miami's appearance in the Sun Bowl.

• An ESPN report praises the elevated play of Notre Dame inside linebacker Brian Smith. Smith, who started the last four games of the season, was instrumental in the Irish’s upset win over USC.

Smith, along with fellow linebacker Manti Te’o, figure to form a formidable presence between the tackles when Miami runs the ball. Add nose tackle Ian Williams to that mix, and we’re in for an interesting matchup inside against Miami’s bulwarts.

Williams missed the last four games of the year with an MCL injury. But he expects to suit up Dec. 31.

• How big of a distraction will the Lizzy Seeberg story be?

The parents of the college freshman who committed suicide after claiming she’d been assaulted by a Notre Dame football player appeared recently on Good Morning America and expressed their feeling of betrayal.

Lizzy, a 19-year-old student at Notre Dame’s sister school, St. Mary’s College, took her life Sept. 10, days after she reported to university police that she'd been improperly touched by a football player on the night of Aug. 31.

Lizzy had battled anxiety and depression.

The University of Notre Dame defends its investigation of the matter.

• Preparations inside Sun Bowl Stadium have already begun for the game.

Replay live coverage: Hyundai Sun Bowl coaches press conference

Update 11:04 a.m.: The press conference is scheduled to begin at 11:20 a.m.

Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly and Miami head coach Jeff Stoutland will discuss this year's Hyundai Sun Bowl at 10:30 a.m. Thursday. Visit elpasotimes.com for live coverage.

Replay chat with Hyundai Sun Bowl executive director

It's official: Notre Dame-Miami

The Hyundai Sun Bowl has its dream matchup — Notre Dame vs. Miami.

Speculation ran rampant Saturday night about the meeting between the two. The official word came Sunday afternoon.The Fighting Irish and Hurricanes will rekindle one of the fiercest rivalries of the 1980s in their first-ever bowl meeting and both teams' first trip to El Paso.

It will be the 24th time the programs meet, but the first since 1990. Notre Dame leads the all-time series 15-7-1.

Tickets are going fast, so if you haven't already plucked a few, go to sunbowl.org.

Keep it posted here and www.elpasotimes.com for the latest on what should be the most highly watched bowl game of the year outside of the New Year's Day games.

What though the odds of Notre Dame?

Any hope of a Pacific-10 team's appearance in this year's Hyundai Sun Bowl was dashed when the NCAA denied Arizona State's appeal for bowl eligibility Friday and when Oregon manhandled Oregon State on Saturday.

But according to a source close to the Sun Bowl, something golden might be headed our way.

The source, who wished to remain anonymous, said that Miami, of the Atlantic Coast Conference, has expressed great interest in making its first visit to El Paso if Notre Dame is waiting for it on the opposite sideline. The Fighting Irish have told the Sun Bowl that they'd commit to being in El Paso on New Year's Eve if Washington beat Washington State and if Connecticut beat South Florida on Saturday night. Washington held off its Apple Cup rival 35-28 and Connecticut made a 52-yard field goal with 17 seconds left to beat South Florida for its first Big East title.

The dominoes fell the Sun Bowl's way. Will Notre Dame play along?

Pac-10 still alive for Sun Bowl

Arizona State's 30-29 double overtime upset of Arizona on Thursday in the annual battle for the Territorial Cup gave the Sun Devils their fourth win over their bitter rival in six years. It also gave the Hyundai Sun Bowl hope that a team from the Pacific-10 Conference will be available to play in the annual El Paso game.

With the win, Arizona State improves to a 6-6 overall record, the magic number for bowl eligibility (NCAA rules on FCS beatdowns notwithstanding). The Sun Devils are the Pac-10's fourth bowl-eligible team. And No. 5 could come Saturday if Washington can win its annual Apple Cup rivalry game against sliding Washington State. The Sun Bowl contractually has the fourth selection of Pac-10 teams. And with all scenarios pointing to two of the conference's teams -- Oregon and Stanford -- landing in Bowl Championship Series games, the concern was the Sun Bowl would have to shop outside the conference to fill the void left by the Pac-10 to face an Atlantic Coast Conference team.

May no longer a problem.

Assuming an Oregon win over Oregon State on Saturday (the Ducks are favored by 16.5 points) and a Washington win over Washington State (Huskies favored by 10), count on Arizona State, or possibly Washington, coming to El Paso on New Year's Eve to very likely face Miami.

The Hurricanes meeting former coach Dennis Erickson? That sounds like good TV. And a much more exciting option than Toledo. The Sun Bowl might be hip again.