Countdown to kickoff: Notre Dame vs. Ohio State is 20 days away
To preview one of the most anticipated games for Notre Dame this century and the official start of the Marcus Freeman era, BlueandGold.com is counting down the days to the matchup against Ohio State on Sept. 3.
This daily series of 99 stories celebrates by the numbers some of the most notable names, dates, moments and memories related to the past and present of Notre Dame football.
With 20 days remaining until kickoff, here’s a look back at the career of former Notre Dame All-American cornerback Luther Bradley, who wore the No. 20 jersey from 1973-77.
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It’s one of the most memorable plays in Notre Dame history to have no statistical acknowledgement.
Unless there’s a stat for helmet dislodging somewhere in the archives.
With a mighty hit on USC wide receiver Lynn Swann in 1973, Notre Dame freshman cornerback Luther Bradley set the mood in what still stands as one of the Irish’s most monumental regular-season wins. USC’s first snap of their Oct. 27 trip to Notre Dame Stadium was a screen to Swann, an eventual unanimous All-American that year. The Trojans went right to their best playmaker.
Bradley was ready.
“I just reacted to the play, and all I know was I had to hit this guy,” Bradley recalled in 2012, “because if I didn’t, he’s probably going to go for 25 or 30 yards.”
Bradley popped Swann, stopping all his momentum. The ball sailed to the sideline. Swann’s helmet tumbled into the end zone. Bradley was not credited with a pass breakup, forced fumble or a tackle on the play. Everyone in the stadium, though, understood its impact.
“Hit him, knocked him backward and his helmet rolled away,” former Irish defensive tackle Nick Fedorenko said. “The place erupted.”
It served a clear message to USC, which came into the game as the defending national champions and on a 23-game win streak. Shortly before the game, Trojans head coach John McKay said if USC gained at least 5 yards on its first play, he knew his team would win. Notre Dame players heard it. Bradley offered the resounding response.
“Luther reacted right off the bat,” former Notre Dame head coach Ara Parseghian later said. “Just buried him. Shook the ball out. That set the stage for the whole game. It was one of those, ‘Wow!’ situations. I knew then we were going to play well.”
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Notre Dame beat the No. 6 Trojans 23-14, moving to 6-0. The Irish won five more games, beating Alabama in the 1973 Sugar Bowl to win the national championship. Bradley was a starter all season, notching six interceptions.
Bradley was suspended for the 1974 season, but returned as a starter in 1975 for the first year of head coach Dan Devine’s tenure. He earned All-American recognition from at least one NCAA-recognized selector from 1975-77, culmination with consensus honors in 1977. The Irish won the national title again in his final season, beating Texas in the Cotton Bowl to clinch it. Bradley picked off five passes that year.
Bradley remains Notre Dame’s career interceptions leader, with 17. He also had 27 pass breakups. His 1973 signing class is the most recent group to win two national titles for Notre Dame.
The Detroit Lions took Bradley with the No. 11 pick in the 1978 NFL Draft. He played four seasons, grabbing nine interceptions. The Muncie, Ind. native then played three seasons in the USFL, ending his career as the league’s all-time interceptions leader.
