The two programs continued to play each other with relative frequency, meeting 15 times during the next 24 years before the series went on hiatus.

In 1947, then-university president John Hannah was doing everything he could to get Michigan State College into the Big Ten and university status. Along with then-head coach Clarence “Biggie” Munn, the pair approached Notre Dame president Father Cavanaugh to revive the series, with the hope that playing national power Notre Dame in football would increase MSC’s chances in making it to the Big Ten.

The Irish accepted, and the Spartans were admitted to the Big Ten in 1949. In 1955, the school officially was made a university before permanently being named “Michigan State University” in 1966.

“That was a big break that got us some national recognition,” former MSU football head coach and current trustee George Perles said. “Notre Dame was the one that gave us a chance because they put us on the schedule.”

Tradition grows
With the resurrection of the series, the Spartans and the Irish developed a fierce rivalry, battling back and forth almost every year.

The two teams created the Megaphone Trophy that year, given to the winner of the series that year. However, a second trophy was exchanged between then-MSU head coach Duffy Daugherty and Notre Dame’s head coach Terry Brennan.

Perles said the two would pass an Irish shillelagh back and forth as well, depending on the outcome of the game.

The rivalry came to culmination in 1966 with the Game of the Century, played in Spartan Stadium on Nov. 19, 1966.

Both programs entered the game with undefeated records — Notre Dame ranked No. 1 overall and MSU ranked No. 2, with national championship implications on the line.

“It was one of the great classic games,” Perles recalled. “There were probably more (future) professionals and first-round draft picks on that field than any other time.”

The game ended in a 10-10 tie on a controversial decision by Notre Dame head coach Ara Parseghian to preserve Notre Dame’s undefeated record by not attempting to win the game, giving each team a share of the national championship that year.

Former MSU linebacker Kaleb Thornhill said he realized the magnitude of the rivalry when his father Charles, also a former MSU linebacker who played in the contest, showed him the game film.
Specifically, the younger Thornhill remembered noticing his dad wearing the letters “ND” on his helmet, and asking what it was for.

“He said, ‘I wanted them to know I’m gonna get you suckers,’” Thornhill recalled. “That showed me all the passion that goes into that game.”

Planting a seed
After watching his father and his brother, Josh, play growing up, Thornhill said he developed a natural respect for the rivalry between MSU and the Irish.

“It just added to the fire when I got to play them,” he said.

Thornhill’s most memorable moment against Notre Dame came in 2005, when the Spartans traveled to Notre Dame Stadium for an early season matchup. Heading into the game, MSU had won four straight in South Bend, the second-longest winning streak at the stadium at the time.

MSU went into the fourth quarter leading 38-24, but the Fighting Irish caught up behind a pair of touchdown passes by quarterback Brady Quinn, sending the game into overtime.

The Spartan defense held Notre Dame to a field goal on the Irish’s first drive of overtime, but a 19-yard scamper by running back Jason Teague gave MSU the win in dramatic fashion.

Following the score, Thornhill said safety Eric Smith turned to him and suggested something that only would fuel the rivalry further.

Grabbing a green MSU flag, the pair ran to midfield and planted it in the turf, enraging the home crowd and then-Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis, who allegedly promised the Irish would never lose to MSU under his watch again.

“When we did that and we heard all the boos, I thought that probably wasn’t the smartest thing to do,” Thornhill said. “To make a bold statement like that just added more to the rivalry.”

The following year, the Irish got their revenge.

In “monsoon-like” conditions, the Spartans fumbled away a 31-14 halftime lead, giving up 19 points in the fourth quarter to fall 40-37.

“You pour in so much with your teammates with that week, and for us to put so much into it and have a heartbreaker like that was tough,” Thornhill said.

Still, Thornhill added he didn’t regret the flag plant one bit.

“It was a moment I’d never take back for anything,” he said.

Little moments
In 2007, head coach Mark Dantonio joined on at MSU, where he has accrued a 3-2 record over Notre Dame.

Of those three wins, none are more memorable than the 2010 match, famous for the “Little Giants” play that sealed the game for the Spartans.

After the Fighting Irish scored a field goal on the opening drive of overtime, the Spartans found themselves trailing 31-28 with one last chance to score.

On fourth-and-14 from Notre Dame’s 29, Dantonio sent the field goal team out to attempt what would be a 46-yard attempt for then-sophomore kicker Dan Conroy.

But as the ball was snapped, holder Aaron Bates stood up and looked down field to hit a wide-open Charlie Gantt for a 29-yard touchdown strike for the game-winning score.

“It’s one of those things that happened so fast that you didn’t really feel the pressure until it happens,” Bates recalled.

Junior linebacker Max Bullough remembers running onto the field with the knowledge the Spartans were about to try one of the riskiest plays in program history and feeling uneasy about it.

“I was mad; I didn’t think we should’ve called the play,” Bullough said. “I didn’t have much say in it because I was the freshman, but I didn’t think it was a good call. That’s why I’m the freshman player and he’s the coach.”

MSU went on to go 11-2 that year, winning a share of the Big Ten title for the first time since 1990.

“If you do look back at it, you don’t know if that caused the turning point, but from that moment, you have only seen positive things for this team,” Bates said.

Hard-nosed football
After Notre Dame thrashed the Spartans 31-13 in South Bend last year, this year’s squad is looking for revenge once again.

Thornhill remembers how physical games against Notre Dame were when he played against the Golden Domers, and he expects the No. 10 Spartans to prepare for another physical matchup.

“Whenever you play a game with them, you’ll end up with some gold on your helmet,” he said. “It’s just hard-nosed football.”

Although the Irish lead the series 46-28-1, the Spartans know that each game with the Irish comes with a certain mystique, and they’ll be looking forward to taking on No. 20 Notre Dame under the lights Saturday night at Spartan Stadium.

“When you play Notre Dame, it’s a great rivalry,” Dantonio said. “I respect that rivalry. As I’ve learned more and more and more … You appreciate that, respect that (and you) respect the history of this game.”