Catholics vs. Convicts rivalry, explained: Revisiting infamous 1988 Notre Dame vs. Miami college football game

JUMP TO: 

• What was the Catholics vs. Convicts game?
• Why is it called Catholics vs. Convicts?
• Miami arrests and controversies
• Origins of Notre Dame-Miami rivalry
• Catholics vs. Convicts shirt
• Catholics vs. Convicts: Who won?
• Catholics vs. Convicts game score
• Catholics vs. Convicts 1988 game recap
• Catholics vs. Convicts controversies
• Key players in Catholics vs. Convicts
• Lou Holtz vs. Jimmy Johnson
• Catholics vs. Convicts 30 for 30
• Who created Catholics vs. Convicts?
• What to remember from Catholics vs. Convicts
• Notre Dame vs. Miami rivalry record

In the age of conference realignment, many traditional college football rivalries are no longer tied by conference affiliation. That said, one of the sport's oldest rivalries is between two teams that were never in the same conference.

The 1980s saw Notre Dame and Miami battle as national powerhouses, and the rivalry grew into a life of its own. In 1988, the two programs took the field for an instant classic that was given the name "Catholics vs. Convicts."

Meetings between the programs tapered off in the 1990s and have been sparse since, but the rivalry has been renewed with scheduled meetings in 2025, 2026, 2028, 2031, 2032, 2034, and 2037.

Revisit "Catholics vs. Convicts," the 1988 meeting that took the Notre Dame-Miami rivalry to another stratosphere.

MORE: What to know about Notre Dame's location, stadium, and more  

What was the Catholics vs. Convicts game?

The "Catholics vs. Convicts" game was the Oct. 15, 1988, regular-season football game between No. 4 Notre Dame and No. 1 Miami. The teams met at Notre Dame Stadium in Notre Dame, Ind.

Why is it called Catholics vs. Convicts?

The "Catholics vs. Convicts" moniker for the matchup is believed to originate from a T-shirt slogan created by Notre Dame students.

Notre Dame, a Catholic institution, carried a more clean-cut reputation than Miami, which dismissed two scholarship players who were arrested during the spring of 1988.

MORE: Complete history of Lee Corso's 'College GameDay' headgear picks

Miami arrests and controversies

Before the 1988 season got underway, Miami head coach Jimmy Johnson announced that defensive tackle Darius Frazier and cornerback Michael Johnson had been dismissed from the team.

Three other players lost their scholarships for academic reasons.

MORE: College football's 2-minue warning, explained

Darius Frazier

Darius Frazier, a DT for the Hurricanes football team, was arrested on April 26, 1988, on cocaine distribution charges. He was suspended and later dismissed from the team.

While released on bond, Frazier was arrested twice more on similar charges. In November 1988, Frazier was sentenced to three and a half years in prison after pleading guilty to five drug-related charges.

Michael Johnson

Michael Johnson, a CB for the Hurricanes football team, was indicted on auto-theft charges in May 1988. The Memphis native was suspended indefinitely and later dismissed from the team.

Johnson and another Miami student from Memphis were arrested in Adamsville, Ala., while driving a car that was reported stolen in their hometown.

MORE: Explaining Notre Dame's history of independent status

Origins of Notre Dame-Miami rivalry

The two programs first met during the 1955 college football season and met three additional times in the 1960s. Notre Dame and Miami began an annual series in 1971 and met each year until 1990, save for the 1986 season.

The rivalry intensified once Miami became a national power in the 1980s, with both teams standing in the way of one another's national title hopes. In 1985, Miami was accused of running up the score in a 58-7 win over Notre Dame in the season finale.

That 1985 game serves as something of a backdrop for a trio of famous games, which was set off by "Catholics vs. Convicts" in 1988.

Catholics vs. Convicts shirt

The "Catholics vs. Convicts" T-shirt fanned the flames of the Notre Dame-Miami rivalry. Former Notre Dame students Joe Fredrick and Pat Walsh are among those credited with the T-shirt slogan.

With the 1988 game taking place at Notre Dame Stadium, fans of the Fighting Irish were spotted wearing shirts that bore the phrase, and it quickly spread. Thus, "Catholics vs. Convicts" was the name given to each of the following games between the programs.

Former Notre Dame students Victor Bierman III and Alan Scorece copyrighted the phrase in 1990 and are believed to have capitalized, though the exact figure they made is unknown.

MORE: History of Miami quarterbacks in the NFL

Catholics vs. Convicts: Who won?

Notre Dame defeated Miami, 31-30.

Catholics vs. Convicts game score

Catholics vs. Convicts 1988 game recap

Notre Dame and Miami went back and forth, trading shots throughout the game.

The Fighting Irish struck first and led 7-0 after one quarter, but a 21-point second-quarter outburst from the Hurricanes resulted in things being tied at 21 at halftime. Notre Dame scored 10 unanswered to take a 31-21 lead into the fourth quarter, but Miami could not be counted out.

The game came down to its final moments, as the Hurricanes scored a touchdown with 45 seconds left, bringing the score to 31-30. Rather than kicking an extra point to force overtime, Johnson's team attempted a two-point conversion to win, but failed.

The Fighting Irish held on for a one-point win.

MORE: Fake injury penalty in college football, explained

Catholics vs. Convicts controversies

Pregame fight

Tensions rose before the game even began, as Miami and Notre Dame mixed it up after warm-ups.

As outlined by The New York Times, “Just before the game, things got nasty when Miami players were leaving the field after warm-ups. Rod Holder, a Miami center, and Anthony Johnson, an Irish fullback, nearly came to blows and then both teams crowded into the ramp under the north stands exchanging words and futile punches.” 

Miami's phantom' goal line fumble

At the midway point of the fourth quarter, Miami trailed, 31-24.

On fourth-and-seven from Notre Dame's 11-yard line, Miami QB Steve Walsh found RB Cleveland Gary, who caught the ball at the 5-yard line and headed toward the end zone. A Notre Dame defender tackled Gary, who fumbled the ball at the 1-yard line. Notre Dame's Michael Stonebreaker recovered the ball.

Miami's Johnson maintained that the play should not have been ruled a fumble, as he felt Gary was down before the ball came loose. Notre Dame took possession at the 2-yard line.

MORE: College football overtime rules, and how it's different than NFL

Miami touchdown catch

The Hurricanes' fourth-quarter touchdown that brought the game within one point should not have counted, footage revealed.

Andre Brown never had full possession of the ball, which was no longer in his hands once he rolled over after an attempt to make a diving catch.

Key players in Catholics vs. Convicts

There were a host of key playmakers in the game.

For Miami, DE Bill Hawkins, RB Cleveland Gary, DB Bubba McDowell, RB Melvin Bratton and LBs Rod Carter and Randy Shannon went on to hear their names called in the 1989 NFL Draft. QB Steve Walsh was named the program's MVP for that season and enjoyed an 11-year NFL career as a supplemental draft pick.

Notre Dame's 1988 roster featured six All-Americans: OT Andy Heck, LB Wes Pritchett, DE Frank Stams, LB Mike Stonebreaker, RB Ricky Waters and DT Chris Zorich. Derek Brown, Rocket Ismail, and Rod Smith are among other very notable Notre Dame players in the game.

MORE: Lee Corso's best 'College GameDay' moments

Lou Holtz vs. Jimmy Johnson

The game also featured a matchup of legendary coaches in Notre Dame's Lou Holtz and Miami's Jimmy Johnson.

Following the pregame kerfuffle, an incensed Holtz famously told his team,"I want to see a class operation. Now, after we win this game, if Miami wants to fight, fine. We'll meet them in the alley. And if they do, you save Jimmy Johnson's ass for me."

There has seemingly always been a healthy rivalry between the two coaches, who, in addition to competing against one another on the sidelines, also competed for jobs. Notably, Holtz's charity worked in a friendly jab on Johnson's 81st birthday.

Happy birthday Coach @JimmyJohnson! 81 only looks better on @81TimBrown. Thanks for the memories. 🌀 🎂 https://t.co/leZfTG88X9 pic.twitter.com/veh4CjJ3m7

— Holtz's Heroes Foundation (@HoltzHeroes) July 16, 2024

Catholics vs. Convicts 30 for 30

In 2016, ESPN released a 30 for 30 titled "Catholics vs. Convicts."

The 102-minute documentary aired following the 2016 Heisman Trophy ceremony and is one of the highest-rated 30 for 30 films in the series' history. The cast includes former Notre Dame students, interviews with Holtz and Johnson, and several players from both teams.

Who is the narrator of Catholics vs. Convicts?

The "Catholics vs. Convicts" 30 for 30 is narrated by Patrick Creadon.

MORE: Breaking down the 10 most shocking NFL Draft slides of all time

Who created Catholics vs. Convicts?

Patrick Creadon created the "Catholics vs. Convicts" 30 for 30.

Creadon, a Chicago native, was a senior at Notre Dame when the game was held and knew the students behind the T-shirt slogan. The film was produced by Christine O'Malley, Jerry Barca, Robert Abbott and Andy Billman.

What to remember from Catholics vs. Convicts

In conjunction with the documentary's release, The Sporting News' Bill Bender looked back at 11 notable things from that game.

Among Bender's musings are the pregame scuffle, the fact that neither school had a conference affiliation, how Miami committed seven turnovers in the game, and a few more facts that contribute to the overall lore of the matchup.

BENDER: 11 things to remember about legendary 1988 Notre Dame-Miami game

Notre Dame vs. Miami rivalry record

Notre Dame holds an 18-8 record over Miami. The schools met 18 times between 1971 and 1989, with Notre Dame winning 14 of those games.

Notre Dame's 2012 win over Miami was vacated for the Fighting Irish's use of ineligible players.

MORE: Most draft picks by a school in a single year