Notre Dame vs Georgia Tech
November 1, 1924

In Georgia Tech, Notre Dame was hosting the biggest name school ever to visit Cartier Field. Bill Alexander had taken over as head coach from John Heisman in 1920, after a 16-year stint in which Heisman and Tech rolled up a 102-29-7 record, including four undefeated teams. Since then, Alexander had built an imposing 29-7-5 record, and the Yellow Jackets claimed Southern championships in 1920, 1921 and 1922.

Homecoming week activities at Notre Dame began with Eddie Luther conducting a noon meeting Wednesday in the gymnasium. Students were given instructions for their part in the celebration. After the final cheers and with the sounds of the “Hike” song still in the air, the men charged onto the field south of the gym to begin the wood piling contest. A set of stakes, each painted with the name of a residence hall, were planted in the field. The men from each hall scurried to find available timber in the surrounding fields to pile up at their hall’s stake. “Before nightfall, the rivalry was aroused to a fighting pitch.”

On Friday, October 31, the News-Times proclaimed that “Notre Dame and South Bend are ready to welcome the crowds of alumni and their families who will attend the greatest Homecoming in the history of the university.” ND monograms and blue-and-gold streamers could be seen at nearly every downtown business. Store fronts were decorated with the school colors of both ND and Georgia Tech. Thursday evening, several hundred students and townspeople watched an elimination boxing tournament at the Gymnasium with 13 bouts of 3 two-minute rounds.

Dispatches from Chicago indicated that hundreds of football fans from the Chicago area were passing up the Purdue-Chicago game at Stagg field and the Indiana-Northwestern tussle in Evanston to come to South Bend. Easily the largest crowd in the history of Cartier Field was expected. Thursday saw a crew hastily construct temporary bleachers at the south end of the stadium to seat an additional 1,500 fans.

Though this was just Notre Dame’s fifth Homecoming, the sense of family – the bond between alumni and current students, between alumni and alma mater – had been a vital part of the university since the school’s founding.

The game was to be the reunion of the first football team ever to represent Notre Dame, in 1887. The captain of the first team, Dr. H. B. Luhn of Spokane, Washington, spent a year and a half tracking down the other members of the first eleven. He found all but one. They came from Portland, Ore., Detroit, Louisville, Columbus, Ga., Bermuda, La., Dubuque, Iowa and Omaha, Neb.

It was the first effort to bring these pioneers of Notre Dame football back to campus as a group in the 36 years since they donned a set of unpadded canvas football suits and, after a brief scrimmage against a team of “scrubs” outfitted in their civilian clothes, took on Michigan.

Thousands of Notre Dame alumni, fans, families of current students, and Georgia Tech supporters streamed into South Bend all day Friday. Student volunteers met visitors at each of the train stations and hotels. The major hotels – the Oliver, the LaSalle, the Jefferson – were jammed, and townspeople even opened up their homes to some of the overflow.

When the Georgia Tech contingent arrived by train at noon Friday, they were met by a large group from the ND Villagers club and ferried in a caravan to the Oliver. Hotel.

At 7 p.m. sharp on Halloween, Friday, October 31, Notre Dame students gathered behind the Band for the Homecoming torchlight parade through campus. “Hundreds of red flares gave the ancient halls of learning a glowing countenance as the voices of hundreds of students cheered the victories of their team.” Alumni and fans entered campus under a welcome arch of electric lights, courtesy of engineering students, who also designed an ingenious display of electric lights on their classroom building.

The assembled masses, now including hundreds of alumni, stood in front of a temporary stage just south of the Gymnasium. Eddie Luther introduced Tech Coach Alexander and every member of his team to loud and prolonged applause. Notre Dame men were taking to heart the reminder to provide their visitors with the most cordial of receptions. This contrasted with the less-than-hospitable reception Notre Dame had encountered on recent trips to Atlanta, where anti- Catholicism was strong.

The highlight of the evening was the presentation of several of the 1887 team members, starting with Dr. Luhn, who was introduced to “riotous cheering.” The evening concluded with hundreds filing into the gymnasium to watch the University’s boxing finals. Downtown, hundreds of others gathered for the annual Homecoming Dance at the South Bend Tribune building. Traditionally held on Saturday evening, it was switched because this Saturday was November 1, All Saints Day, a holy day of obligation in the Catholic church. All students would be expected to attend Mass on Saturday.

Because it was Homecoming and a church feast day, Saturday morning classes were canceled. ND students were able to enjoy the buzz of activity that enveloped campus from mid-morning. With a record crowd expected, automobiles started crawling onto campus earlier than usual,

At 11 a.m. on a glorious October Saturday, the lunchroom staff from O.A. Clark began serving a barbecue dinner in the field next to the gym, where thousands stood the night before to be entertained. As game time approached, the Notre Dame Band was joined by the Studebaker band and the News-Times Boys Band to entertain the midday diners.

Fans were packing the wooden stands when they were treated to a most unusual sight. Slowly rolling onto Cartier Field was a brand-new Studebaker Bix Six sedan, the top-of-the-line model. It was driven by George F. Hull, well-known as the former co-proprietor of Hullie & Mike’s cigar store, a favorite haunt of ND students for years. When the auto pulled up near the Irish bench, Frank Shaughnessy of the Chicago Notre Dame Club made a quick presentation – the car was a gift of the alumni to coach and athletic director Knute Rockne in appreciation of his years of work in putting Notre Dame on the athletic map of the nation and, indeed, the world.

With the festivities concluded, the colorful crowd settled back to watch football. ND started its Shock Troops again, and Tech’s Wycoff took advantage, following perfect blocking, to run for 40 yards on the first play from scrimmage. Scherer, the Irish safety, made a touchdown- saving tackle. The ND subs got their bearings and slowed the Georgia Tech rush, which forced a 25-yard field goal to give the Jackets a 3-0 lead. After a Notre Dame punt, Wycoff started rolling again. The first of the ND regulars, right tackle Rip Miller, entered the game. Wycoff tried an end run around the other side of the line, but Crowe caught him for a nine-yard loss. The Tech star then showed his kicking prowess and launched a 55-yard punt to the ND 27.

Minutes later, after another punt exchange, ND’s Wilbur Eaton recovered a fumble on Tech’s 37. The Shock Troops found their timing. Doc Connell and Bill Cerney made several strong runs and moved the ball to the Yellow Jacket five. Penalties pushed the Irish back, and they lost the ball on downs at the 13.

Wycoff again got his team out of dangerous territory, this time with a punt of 58 yards. As the quarter was running out, Notre Dame fans spotted a familiar figure tossing off his blanket and entering the game. They could scarcely believe their eyes – it was Adam Walsh. The crowd cheered as their captain took his spot at center. A moment later, he was joined by several other first-stringers.

Cerney and Scherer had remained in the backfield. Don Miller, on his first attempt, broke loose for 32 yards. Crowley, also new in the game, added another 15. Carries by Cerney, Crowley and Miller got the ball to the 5. This time the Irish scored, Crowley passing to Miller, then added the point for a 7-3 lead. Another Wycoff punt gave Rockne’s squad the ball at its own 43. Miller’s speed and elusiveness were again too much as he went around left end for 18 yards. Crowley burst through Rip Miller’s block and zigged for 15 more. Layden, now in the game, ran twice to get it inside the 10, and three plays later crashed through center for a touchdown. In just a few minutes, ND jumped to a 14-3 margin.

Harmon replaced Walsh, and the captain again received great cheers as he left the field. No need to keep Walsh in a game being dominated by Notre Dame. Layden also took a seat, replaced by Bernie Livergood. After a Notre Dame punt, Red Hearden went in for Don Miller, and young Jack Roach replaced Crowley. On just his second carry, Roach tallied a 35-yard run to the Tech five, then scored on the next play. Reese, now in at quarterback, added the kick, and the half ended, 21-3. The crowd, in a convivial mood to start the day, was in even greater cheer. A colorful, unusual halftime show seemed right for the day. Trumpeters dressed in vibrant costumes took to the field, introducing a mock football game of “teahound” players dressed in clown costumes.

The Irish started the second half with a few of its first-unit linemen still in the game. A sub backfield of Edwards, Houser, Connell and Livergood took the field. With a 21-3 lead, Crowley, Miller and Layden were done for the day. Running behind Rip Miller, Joe Bach and John Weibel, the Irish continued to rack up yardage. Livergood went up the middle for 14. Houser circled end for 18. Livergood made another 15 after crashing through the line. But one drive ended with a fumble, another drive when the ball went over to Georgia Tech on downs, and a third drive when Red Edwards’ drop-kick attempt from 30 yards went wide. The third quarter ended with no scoring.

Early in the fourth quarter, the remaining regulars in the line exited, and an all-backup squad full of energy against a rapidly tiring Engineer eleven was raring to show its stuff. Livergood made another 18-yard gain. Doc Connell broke through tackle for 18. The march continued to the Tech 3-yard-line where Scherer passed across to a wide-open Roach for a touchdown. Roach added the point for a 28-3 lead.

More ND players joined the fray, including Gerry Miller, making his first game appearance of the season. Don Miller looked anxiously from the sideline, hoping his brother would get a taste of the success his teammates had been enjoying all afternoon. On his first play, Gerry broke free and hauled in an 18-yard pass from Scherer.

Moments later, Joe Rigali entered the game and intercepted a Tech pass at the Engineer 25. Livergood hauled the ball four times, the last time a one-yard plunge for the game’s final touchdown. Bernie Livergood, the senior from Stonington, Illinois, had completed his best day as a college football player. And Notre Dame won, 34-3.

Three Saturdays, three intersectional victories – it was an unheard-of feat. Notre Dame was winning over fans and the press from coast to coast. And behind the scenes – unbeknownst to most Irish fans, and even the team itself – conversations were underway to arrange for Rockne’s “wonder team” to extend its season with a West Coast spectacular. With a 5-0 start, Father O’Hara’s hopes to showcase the University were beginning to become a reality.

Excerpted from Loyal Sons: The Story of The Four Horsemen and Notre Dame Football’s 1924 Champions. Order an inscribed, autographed copy of the Special Centennial Commemorative Edition HERE.