Walt Sweeney

[Dick_in_MI]

Nice article on Walt in the Orangeyes Daily Articles.

Fellow old timers will recall that it was Walt who roughed the Norte Dame kicker on the final play in 1961 at South Bend. The refs gave ND an extra play, which was not in accordance with the rule book at the time and they won.

The ND President, a Syracuse native, said that ND would concede the game to SU but of course ND had no greater ethics than anyone else and nothing happened. The refs’ error would stand.

This would usher in a lifetime of rooting against ND by myself and most SU fans who were alive at the time.

 

[tipphill]

soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo truuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuue

 

[florange44]

My Mom, a Catholic, hated Notre Dame since that very day. She held that grudge well into her nineties. 58 years.

Florange44

 

[dasher]

My Mom, a Catholic, hated Notre Dame since that very day. She held that grudge well into her nineties. 58 years.

Florange44

Good for her. I have many great qualities. Forgiveness isn't one of them

 

[hplare]

I remember posting about this several years ago, but there's also an interesting follow up to the story.

Coach Ben was a regular guest at our annual 3 day member/guest and told many tales of the old days including this one.

As ND sent in the kicking unit Ben told the D that the kicker was beyond his distance and there was no way he could make it. He cautioned about a fake, but deemed it a last ditch desperate attempt and told the D to just let him kick it. As noted Sweeney bulled through and roughed the holder. Ben sadly shook his head as he remembered Sweeney happily running off the field yelling, "Did you see it, Coach! Did you see it! I creamed him!"

 

[SUfaninAZ]

He should be in the HoF.

 

[tipphill]

My Mom, a Catholic, hated Notre Dame since that very day. She held that grudge well into her nineties. 58 years.

Florange44

good for mom

 

[longtimefan]

Nice article on Walt in the Orangeyes Daily Articles.

Fellow old timers will recall that it was Walt who roughed the Norte Dame kicker on the final play in 1961 at South Bend. The refs gave ND an extra play, which was not in accordance with the rule book at the time and they won.

The ND President, a Syracuse native, said that ND would concede the game to SU but of course ND had no greater ethics than anyone else and nothing happened. The refs’ error would stand.

This would usher in a lifetime of rooting against ND by myself and most SU fans who were alive at the time.

A great line from an article about the game, and subsequent non-forfeiture, came from Red Smith (an ND alum). I'll paraphrase, because, after all these years, I can't quote it: "The only true Fighting Irishman on the field that day was Walt Sweeney."

 

[tbonezone]

i remember his football card. san diego. do they still sell those with gum ? i also remember early 70's having a football book with stickers from a gas station that you could paste and trade. searching trading for jim plunkett.